SAPD Hosts Prayer Vigils To Offer Hope

With the recent premeditated murders of five Dallas Police Officers, and the assassination attempts on several others, Texas communities are coming together to grieve the loss and injury of these public servants. Social media has also been flooded with condolences for the families and support for local  law enforcement. 

Yesterday morning, there was a prayer vigil at the San Angelo Police Department, and for those people who couldn't make it, another yesterday evening. Several hundred community members of all races, ages and denominations turned out with heavy hearts and an unexplained emptiness to hear prayer from various area spiritual leaders.

Chief Tim Vasquez opened the ceremony by reiterating whether they be black, blue, or any other hue, all lives matter; and then one by one several Pastors said their piece. 

Pastor Dawkins said,"What we're doing today transcends not only race, but it [also] transcends denomination. How many of you know that when we get to heaven, there's not going to be a black section; there's not going to be a Baptist, Pentecostal, white or rich section; as a matter of fact, we might be surprised of who is not in there." 

Pastor Jeff said, "All of us have heard about the shooter in Dallas hating white people and hating white cops. He's a prime example that when we're controlled by hate, we're stupid. The Dallas Police Department has the most diverse police department in America. It receives the least amount of complaints for a Police Department of its size in America. CNN put out a written story about how they've changed and worked toward this. And of how, of all the police departments that shoot, this was the least one. They worked at being diverse, and worked at community relations. I thought about that as I was reading this quote this morning by Martin Luther King. "Returning violence for violence multiplies violence and adds a deeper darkness of a night already devoid of stars. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that."

He continued, "As we pray for the families of these victims, it is always hard to lose somebody that you love. It's always hard to see someone you love hurt. But when you realize that they are gone or injured from hate, the pain is multiplied. We pray for these families for healing. We need to pray for the condition of our country; that we will come together in a Christ-centered manner and discuss the issues that are before us."

Together, with Gods' guidance, Pastor Jeff asked the parishioners to join him in prayer.  

"We've got victims of violence, not only in Dallas, but all over who are victims of hate. We need to walk in God's love. We need to admit our sins and failures, and then, as a society, come together and figure out what can we do to get rid of hate."  

Pastor Jeff also mentioned the families in Dallas, Missouri, Louisiana and others involved in recent shootings.

"I pray that the Lord's loving arms will be wrapped around them in a way that is unique to them," he said. "Let them know they don't have to walk alone. We're in this together. May this be the start of something great (referring to the gathering)."

Dr. Harrison then prayed for the city, authorities, single parents struggling to raise families, and asked God to watch over the officers who have taken the oath to protect and serve our community. He referred to San Angelo as the "City of Angels."  He also asked for God to bless our pastors to be able to mentor our youth to where they make better decisions, and to be the men they are called to be.