Photos by Priscilla Prude, courtesy of Scott Beck
Featured photo: Pastor Lamar Griggs of Second Chance Ministries prays at the 17th Annual Prayer Chain Day event in Flint in 2023.
Written by Tanya Terry
On September 28, an amazing event – the 18th annual Prayer Chain Day event – will be held in Flint. The inspiration for this event was from Evangelist Geneva Spears, who died last year and was well-known for her role in the Soul Winning Jubilee, and Evangelist Janet Pickell, who was the wife of Former Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell.
Spears and Pickell had decided to do something for the community on the Day of Atonement, according to Scott Beck, a pastor at Bethesda Temple in Flint, who is now chief organizer of the Prayer Chain Day Organizing Committee.
Christianity.com says of the Day of Atonement: It is a day dedicated to prayer, fasting and repentance, offering individuals the opportunity to reflect on their actions over the past year, seek forgiveness from God and make amends with those they have wronged. The ultimate aim of the Day of Atonement is to purify the soul and renew one’s relationship with God.
The Day of Atonement falls in September or October, depending on the calendar year.
Beck told the Courier about how Spears and Pickell took the purpose of the day a step further.
“They wanted all the churches to come together to pray for Flint,” Beck said.
Before the pandemic, over 100 ministries were joining in the annual event. Beck told the Courier that as other things are returning to the way they were, so is Prayer Chain Day.
“Last year, we had a great turnout on the front lawn of the County Jail,” Beck explained. “We had about 60 ministries represented.”
Beck also stated there were periods of time that immediately followed Prayer Chain Day when the crime in Flint was virtually eliminated!
“That’s one of the topics we pray about, along with many others. We’re praying for the leaders of the city; we’re praying for the churches; we’re praying for the children, the schools, the water, the health of the community…and mostly for their souls!”
At noon on September 28, the Prayer Rally begins at the County Jailhouse with a host many of Flint’s ecumenical leader’s praying for all the important issues in our city. At around 1:15 p.m., participants can borrow Prayer Chain Day car flags and participate in the Prayer Ride up and down Saginaw Street, from Coldwater to Bristol roads! From 1:30-2 p.m., cider, donuts and coffee will be available for City Hall Prayer Teams and returning prayer riders. At the same time, community members have the options of taking part in community outreach on various local streets, which they will be able to “adopt.”
“We have some of the top evangelical leaders in Flint that are going to be praying. You can come and hear and pray with Apostle Lonnie Brown of Kingdom of Heaven Ministries, Pastor Jimmie Whitaker of Bethesda Temple, Pastor Tom Mattiuzzo of Every Nation Church (formerly Riverside Tabernacle) Pastor Kyle (Bailey) from CenterPoint…just so many really, really dynamic leaders that are going to be praying. It’s worth it to come down, and there is no cost to be there.”
Beck said by community members offering an hour or two their time to prayer for the city, they are making an investment that will pay great dividends!
Beck said his personal goal is to see the churches and community unify as a result of the event.
“We can do so much more together than we can apart.”
All denominations are welcome to participate in the Prayer Chain Day event.
For details, visit www.flintprayerchain.org
