Written by Tanya Terry, with photos by Tanya Terry
On Saturday, September 27, many members of the Flint and Genesee County community gathered to pray for the city of Flint and its well-being.
Over 20 area pastors prayed for Flint’s children, elected officials, against homelessness, for protection from crime, for church leaders, against generational curses for church leaders and more.
MaKayla Pratcher, who said she will turn 21 in October, spoke to the Courier on the day of the event.
She stated: “This is amazing. We were able to give God the glory and the praise. His Word says when two or three come together, God will be in the midst. God was in the midst today. I just pray that the Lord’s Spirit has touched the souls in the jail ministry, touched the city hall, touched the pastors, touched our mayor and everything we have going.
“We have to stand up and know that the Lord is coming back one day. Jesus is coming back. So, it’s important that as His children we are disciples, telling everyone that Jesus is coming back. We have to make sure everybody is prepared.”
Pratcher further stated she hoped those in the jail felt the Holy Spirit and changed their lives when they are released, even becoming ministers themselves.
This was the first year her church, Refuge Temple of Flint, participated in the event. She told the Courier she felt Christian people had gotten “too lazy to minister outside of their walls.”
“We have to do better as far as ministering to people, touching people and telling people that Jesus loves them.”
Pastor Matthew Jackson is the pastor of Refuge Temple of Flint.
“He teaches us not to lean on our own understanding, and today we did not lean on our own understanding. We came and we did what we were supposed to do for God’s people.”
Sister Barbara McDowell, a minister at Victorious Word Church on Beecher Road, told the Courier she had come to every Prayer Chain Day for the last five years, also participating in the Prayer Ride up and down Saginaw Street (Coldwater to Bristol). She called the 2025 Prayer Chain Day “fulfilling.”
“I ride north, south, east and west and pray over the city – and I love and enjoy the company, being unified with the ministers, with people from Flint,” said McDowell. “I’m praying for the Flint Water Crisis money to come through. We’re taking it by force. These families need it to make a turnaround in Flint. They will build themselves up when they get their money-and I know they’re going to have to release it because I’m fighting for them.”
McDowell said she is “the first responder missionary minister in Flint on wheels.”
“I love people and I will keep doing this until the day I day,” she stated.
She said there was “fire” at the event.
“But the fire needs to be lit up. We’ve got to turn up the furnace.”
McDowell hopes as more people hear about Prayer Chain Day, more people will come out to participate in future years.
