Clergy and Community Leaders Unite to Address Continued Violence in our Community

April 28, 2011 - PRLog -- GOLDSBORO – More than 20 participants in the STOP the Funeral Initiative’s 2010 Drug Dealer/Gang Member Redemption Conference are unrelenting in their commitment to change their lives.  While this is significant, continued violence attacks our community regularly and highlights the need to do more.  Stop the Funeral Initiative will host the 2011 Unity Revival on FRIDAY May 6th at 7:00 PM.  The theme for this year’s revival is “Uniting the Community for Change: A Call to Action.”

Spiritual Warfare is the thrust of this 2011 Unity Revival as it ushers in the Initiative’s days of fasting and prayer in preparation for the Community Prayer Walk to be held the Grand at Day Pointe Apartments where three year old Princess King was shot and killed.  “As long as children are in danger on a playground there will be more to do and as the church, we are called to do this work”   We must continue to be an important component of any effort to change our communities.”,  said Rev. Mickael Stephens, co-convener of Stop the Funeral Initiative.  

Friday night’s service will begin at 7:00pm and will feature Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, president of the  NC Conference of the NAACP,  board member of the National Conference of NAACP, Pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church, DOC, Board Chair of Rebuilding Broken Places CDC and co-convener of STOP the Funeral Initiative.  

“As the elders and leaders of our community we must take on our charge to change our community and this battle must begin with Spiritual Warfare. Winning the battle in the spirit is pivotal to winning on the ground”, said Dr. Barber.

This year’s  ”Call to Action” highlights the importance of reaching our community leaders and those in the communities affected most by violence with the message that change is not only possible but that there is a blueprint to help make it happen.
 
"An E.P.I.C. CALL to ACTION"
 
E- Empower our community -  Plan of Engagement has multiple projects where pastors and parishioners can prayerfully and selectively unify in ways that empower the community towards a common goal.
                 
P- Pray for our Community in a unified way - Each participating pastor will ask their membership to attend our scheduled revival service on Friday, May 6th at 7:00 PM. The Unity Revival prayer gathering will feature Unity, Petitionery, Intercessory, Healing, Authoritative, Radical and Redemptive prayers.

I- Inform our Community – The Plan of Engagement for 2011 will be unveiled as components of our consistent efforts to curtail violence, narcissism, and self-destruction in our community.

C- Connect with our community - On Friday,  May 6th, each attendee will receive special "Stop the Funeral Initiative Spiritual Warfare Unity Revival Prayer and Fasting Calendar and will be asked to engage in specific days of prayer and fasting for hope, healing and peace.  At the conclusion of the days of consecration, we will follow-up with our Community Prayer Walk to be held on July 23rd, 2011.  

CALL together the Faith Community - This initiative was birthed out of a perilous situation that has been entombed within the hearts of the faith community for time and eternity.  This calling together of the community will serve to enliven and revive our goal of organizing, directing and supporting our consortium's efforts to eliminate the violence that drug and gang activity bring into our community.  
This year's Unity Revival is a CALL to ACTION!
We must take our community back!  Let us not lose anymore of our young people.

Join us for the
“Uniting the Community for Change: A Call to Action."
2011 UNITY REVIVAL
Spiritual Warfare Services
on Friday, May 6th  at 7:00 PM
Word Faith Center,
289 Buck Swamp Road, Goldsboro, NC 27530

We are asking area churches, community leaders, civic organizations and concerned citizens throughout Wayne County to join us as we seek God for unity and wisdom in addressing violence in our community and as we remember “the why” of stopping funerals.  Supporters are asked to attend this Friday evening service.  Anyone wishing additional information is asked to contact the STOP the Funeral Initiative office at 919 581-9178 x 104, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, NC President of NAACP at 919 394-8137, or Francine Smith at 919 394-2221.

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A collaborative effort of RBPCDC, Goldsboro/Wayne Branch-NAACP, and the faith community united to be a catalyst for addressing drug and gang violence in Wayne County. Begun in April, 2007 after a homicide following a funeral at McIntyre’s Funeral Home