Churches all over Texas have joined a growing number of law enforcement agencies to hold special Oct. 19 ceremonies to pray for law enforcement officers everywhere.
Event leader Doug Griffith, HPOU’s first vice president, said each church, agency and community support group will participate by conducting a prayer service at 1 p.m. that day.
Griffith said HPOU will set up its tent on the parking lot at 1600 State Street for prayers with Houstonians from 7 a.m. until noon. These prayers will be followed by a stroll to City Hall for the service on the steps of Houston’s City Hall.
“We’re reaching out to provide information to all the different policing agencies and churches throughout the state,” Griffith explained. “We’re trying to get it on all our social media in any way we can. We are on a Christian blog in Katy that goes out to 450 countries.”
The HPOU vice president said “the response has been great” and reported that “police agencies are involved in this and try to help with our community outreach.”
The “why” in the prayer equation is obvious to anyone supporting law enforcement officers in these days of racial distress.
“The recent attacks on law enforcement have taken their toll on the officers as well as the communities in which they serve,”” Griffith said. “This being said, we will all need to come together as one unified voice.”
Griffith said HPOU has asked all Texas police unions and associations to join together on this special day of remembrance and prayer, calling upon all organizations to come together “as a united group to support law enforcement, the community and the leadership of the state.
“Our vision is one of unification, not only among law enforcement agencies but also within the communities in which we serve.”
“I am asking that we unify in PRAYER, as one body, to show support for law enforcement and for the communities in which we proudly protect and serve,” Griffith explained. “We hope to have a prayer at the steps at the respective city halls of each city.
“We will be asking people to tag photos on social media with the #P4P. Agencies can plan any type of event they want leading up to the prayer, be creative if you like. We understand that there may be instances in which an event leading up to the prayer is not possible.
“The important part of this event is the 1 p.m. statewide prayer!”
This latest Pray for Police exercise will go down as the latest stepped-up attempt by the HPOU to encourage togetherness of police and the community through prayers. The initial undertaking began at the HPOU a few years ago and was immediately endorsed by former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara.
Distribution of Pray For Police bracelets reached a phenomenal proportions with citizens from all walks of life, creeds and color demonstrating their support of law enforcement, especially the Houston Police Department.
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