Video: Community Wide Prayer Rally Postponed

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Barely two weeks ago, a diverse group of pastors gathered for several meetings, organizing a prayer and worship rally, with the theme of “Moving Towards Unity in Christ.”

The rally was planned to foster unity throughout the city in the wake of unrest after the June 18th shooting of Ronnie Shumpert, by Tupelo Police Officer Tyler Cook.

Emotions throughout the area have run high since the incident, and pastors felt the prayer rally would help heal deep divisions.

“I’ve never seen that much excitement, that many churches, a lot of denominations won’t get together for whatever reason,” said David Ball, pastor of The Anchor Church.

Plans for the Wednesday evening rally at the Bancorpsouth Arena were in high gear, until Monday’s announcement that a Grand Jury had cleared Officer Cook of any wrong doing in the incident.

“It’s kind of like the Shumpert family is now fresh and new grieving process has started all over for them, so we felt like it would be insensitive to have that at this time, Pastor Ball said.

Ball was joined in our interview by evangelist Ellis Westbrook, who is Ronnie Shumpert’s uncle. Westbrook tried to organize a march through the city of Tupelo, but changed those plans , partnering with local churches for the Wednesday night prayer rally.

Westbrook says he is still focused on promoting unity through the Christian message.

“That goal is not out of the question, that’s a goal we will achieve, it might take a longer healing process now, but we will achieve that goal,” Westbrook said.

Although the community wide rally is postponed, Pastor Ball encourages churches to use their Wednesday night services to pray for true unity and healing. In the meantime, Westbrook plans to organize a march the first weekend of September. Pastor Ball and Westbrook met with Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton earlier, outlining reasons for postponing the prayer rally.