“The Lord gave the word; great was the company of those that published it,” Psalms 68:11.

“If my people, which are called by name, shall 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,” 2 Chronicles 7:14.

It’s back to school time and the buses are now rolling once again.

The Women of the Word Ministries hosted their first annual Back to School Prayer and Praise Vigil at the Lincoln Civic Center on Aug. 3.

Due to the recent loss of lives of so many of our young people, some of the youth who are affiliated with the ministry requested that the ministry host a Back to School Prayer Vigil before they returned back to school.

Because one of the main missions of the ministry is to pray for the young people, the members of the WOW Ministry were honored to oblige them.

(Word to the wise whenever the children sense a strong urge and a need for prayer, don’t question nor criticize them, just humble yourselves and pray.)

The theme for the night was “The Children are our Future.” The sponsors who were willing and glad to assist with the Back to School Prayer Vigil were Lorenda P Reese, Director of Expressions of Praise Dance Ministry of the Rhema Word Church, Minister Lorraine Ezell of The Yard Sale Place, Pastor Phillip Sterling of Grace Community Church and yours truly.

Sponsors who donated their time and services were the Lincoln Civic Center, Southern Office Products, Cakes Etc., Eugene Taper Thompson of Taper 2000 on Brookway Boulevard, Bible Way Church of God in Christ, Advance Cash, Evangelist LaDeania Bates of Changing Lives Ministries, Missions Mississippi, McEwen Flowers and Gifts and Walmart Supercenter.

These sponsors donated refreshments, school supplies and they came out to support the young people.

Those in attendance who received personal invitations by the young people were Sheriff Steve Rushing of the Lincoln County Sheriffs Department, Police Chief Bobby Bell and Officer Fred Daniels of the Brookhaven Police Department, from the Board of Alderman, Shirley Estes and Karen Sullivan, Sen. Sally Doty, Pastors Jerry Kelly of City of Grace Church, Darrell Hilliard of Rhema Word Church, Speady Ross of Bible Way Church of God in Christ and the numerous members of Mission Mississippi.

Because of the generosity of all of the sponsors, all of the young children received school supplies.

Minister Lorraine Ezell challenged those who attended to do something that the Brookhaven Pray Partnership started years ago.  It is called drive by prayer.  She challenged everyone to commit to pray each time they passed by a school for the children and the staff.

Shametta Johnson, a student at Brookhaven High and one of the youth who requested the Prayer Vigil, welcomed everyone for coming out.

Lorenda P. Reese, Director of the Praise Dance Ministry, had the young ladies well prepared to render praises unto God, and they did an excellent job.

Madyson Erwin, a 9-year old-child actor/singer and model, and daughter of Deborah Erwin of McComb rendered two selections, and Semaj Ross, son of Dramecus and Ebony Ross of McComb rendered a Solo by Whitney Houston “The Children are our Future.

Pastor Phillip Sterling of Grace Community Church was accompanied by his choir, and they rendered a musical selection prior to his Words of Encouragement to the youth and the adults.

Pastor Darrell Hilliard of Rhema Word Church had expressions, and he prayed the final prayer for the night.

The Mistress of Ceremony for the night was Evangelist Amelia Magee of Tylertown.

Until next time, continue to pray for one another and if you can’t find anything nice to say, just simply SHUT UP, our children are listening.

To contact Pat Butler you may email her at butler1685@att.net.