Prayer vigil seeks to heal Valley

Pray 3 Days

Video

Pray 3 Days is an event going on September 10th, 11th, and 12th at the Covelli Center in Y-town. It is 72 hours of non-stop prayer, worship and celebration.

By Linda Linonis

Youngstown must re-orient itself to God to cure spiritual sickness, a pastor says.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Rev. Gary Frost echoed the message that motivated Raymond Butler to organize Pray 3 Days, a 72-hour prayer vigil that began Thursday morning and concludes Sunday morning.

“The Valley needs a spiritual healing,” said Butler, a member of Price Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church and the lay person who inspired the vigil.

The Rev. Mr. Frost, pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church in New York and former pastor of Rising Star Baptist Church, took the idea a step further and said, “Youngstown and America must re-orient themselves to God. We have a lack of righteousness.”

There are prayer and celebration tents outside the Covelli Centre and speakers and programs inside the center.

Mr. Frost, who was the keynote morning speaker Friday, addressed the remembrance of the day. “Our hearts go out continuously to those who died and their families,” he said. Mr. Frost, also involved with Emerging Leadership with the New York City Leadership Center, said he sees many “We Will Never Forget” signs in the Big Apple.

But he questioned what won’t be forgotten — the anger, the sense of vengeance and the sense of wanting payback.

Though it may not be easy to hear, Mr. Frost said al-Qaida targeted three points of pride when it crashed planes into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon and tried to go for the U.S. Capitol: “riches in the economic status of America at the Trade Towers, military strength [at the Pentagon] in our role as the world’s protector and the Capitol, a symbol of democracy.

“They struck at our strengths,” Mr. Frost said.

And he said it is only by the grace of God that there hasn’t been another strike. “This isn’t popular preaching,” he said. “We have to get it right with God ... or see another Sept. 11.”

“Everything we need to live a good life is in the Bible,” Mr. Frost said. Problems in Youngstown and America are evidenced by people turning away from God, he said. “We don’t know who we are or where we’re going.”

Mr. Frost likened King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who made war on the Israelites, to al-Qaida and other enemies of America. He said the prophet Jeremiah doesn’t focus on all “doom and gloom, but help and hope” if people repent.

The classic biblical reference is 2 Chronicles 7:14: “ If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Bishop Chorrethers Jenkins of Grace Evangelistic Temple cited the same passage when the Pray 3 Days organizers met, noting that area clergy realize there is a spiritual sickness in the community. Bishop Jenkins said he felt God used Butler, a lay person, to bring together people of different faiths in pray. “There is a sense of togetherness,” he said, “It’s forgetting differences to share in prayer.”

David Merchant of Youngstown and Gretchen Ellison of Girard, who attend Fifth Avenue Community Church, were praying Friday morning. “Someone needs to pray for those who don’t,” Merchant said. “I pray about what God puts on my heart ... the homeless, sick, our children, teens, my family.”

“I wanted to pray today for the families of those who died,” Ellison said. “We’re gathered in his name.”

Carol Donnelly of Youngstown, a member of Price Memorial African Methodist Episcopal and Church Women United, said, “I think the city and country can really benefit from prayer. We need God to bless us.”

“We need a change in the city,” said Helen Durflinger of Youngstown. “We’re praying ... God can change it.”

Pray 3 Days | Final activities

Pray 3 Days is a 72-hour vigil that began at 7 a.m. Thursday and will conclude Sunday morning. Community residents prayed for the spiritual, economic and social restoration of the Mahoning Valley. “Praying and Celebrating with a Powerful Purpose” is the theme.

Coordinators: Raymond Butler, a member of Price Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church; Pastor Tarone Claybrook of Heartreach Ministries; Linda Daniels of the City Prayer Team of Youngstown; Bishop Chorrethers Jenkins of Grace Evangelistic Temple; and Jeffrey M. Magada, executive director of Flying High Inc.

Location: Praying and celebrating tents are set up at the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown. Speakers will address the audience inside the center.

Today’s agenda: HeartReach Ministries muppets at noon, Stephano and Crew at 1 p.m., guitarist John Austin at 2, Pastor Robin Woodberry and New Bethel Youth Group at 3, Glen Williams and One Step to Life at 4:45 and Robinson Brothers vocal group at 6:15.

Sunday: 7 to 9 a.m., tent sunrise service with the Rev. Rosalynne Mitchell-Martin of Price AME Church and community mass choir and tent vigil closing.

Donations: Pray 3 Days is operating under the fiduciary agency of Flying High Inc., a 501(c) (3) organization. Donations are tax deductible. Send donations to Flying High, P.O. Box 4971, Youngstown, Ohio 44515. Local businessman Clarence Smith is underwriting the cost of renting the center.