By Marnita Coleman,
Special to the AFRO
Ten years after its launch, the annual Bless Baltimore Prayer Motorcade continues to protect the citizens of Baltimore from fatal crimes through prayer.
On July 22, more than 346 prayer warriors caravanned around Baltimore interceding as they moved strategically to converge on specific checkpoints for prayer and fellowship in designated communities.
The day began with a 9 a.m. meetup at War Memorial Plaza. Baltimore Police Department Acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley greeted the group and endorsed the efforts of 17 participating ministries from Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Worley joined the prayer brigade as they kicked off the event and availed himself to the pastors and leaders of the churches. The motorcade’s mission was set forth as they spread “Christian light” through prayer and God’s presence.
Organized by the Multicultural Prayer Movement, which is composed of 400 churches in the Mid-Atlantic region that’s committed to unifying the body of Christ, this year’s motorcade consisted of 43 vehicles, 13 more than the previous year. The motorcade was escorted by the Baltimore City Police Motorcycle Unit, which is involved in every major event in Baltimore City.
Bishop Angel Nunez, president of the host organization said the churches are rising up as one church to address the concerns of violence. “We surrounded the city and prayed for peace, our youth and our children,” Nunez stated. Apparently, they were effective. According to the Baltimore Police Department, there were no homicides in the city for almost 48 hours. Bishop Nunez ecstatically attributes this miracle to the power of prayer.
“The motorcade is a vibrant and anticipated event in the church community,” said Bishop Marcus A. Johnson, Sr., vice president of the Multicultural Prayer Movement. Intercessors come from multiple churches, races, ethnicities, and generations, elated to participate and agree with this spiritual encounter, he explained. The level of engagement increased due to the involvement of young adults and the faith-based community’s concern for collaboration between the neighborhoods and the police department.
Each checkpoint was selected according to the recent rise in crime in that area. The motorcade stopped in Brooklyn Park, Edmondson Village, Patterson Park, Moravia Park and the Oliver community.
Bishop Johnson noted how “the communities eagerly welcomed the motorcade’s presence” and requested there be more engagements in the future. He went on to say, “They expressed their confidence in the church institution as a legitimate support to the needs of the community.”
The Bless Baltimore Prayer Motorcade began in 2013. After learning about prayer walks conducted by Life Source International Church in Rosedale, Md., Bishop Nunez, pastor of the Bilingual Christian Church of Baltimore in Northeast Baltimore and Bishop Johnson, pastor of New Harvest Ministries in East Baltimore, partnered to broaden prayer initiates by forming the Multicultural Prayer Movement, host organization of the motorcade.
The Mayor’s Office of Safety and Engagement reports that there have been 149 homicides in 2023, 19.89 percent less than this time last year, and 5,674 violent crimes, 6.72 percent less than last year’s numbers. As our city moves in the right direction by reducing crime, let’s keep prayer at the forefront because it’s working for our good!
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