'A prayer for the city': Philadelphia ministers hold vigil for gun violence, city leaders

“The murder rate is down,” he said. “The shootings are down in the city, but one is still too many. We know that faith without works is dead so we’re going to pray.”To date, there have been 86 homicides in the city this year, a 34% decrease from 2023. As of April 24, there have been 242 nonfatal shooting victims and 75 fatal shooting victims, according to the city’s Office of the Controller.

“As the violence is decreasing more, we want it to be eliminated,” said Calvary Christian Church Minister Cecilia Baldwin during her prayer. “We want it to be eliminated in your name, Father God.

“My challenge for you today is to come up alongside a young one and guide them,” she said. “Show them your word Father God where it says ‘what needs to be done.’ Violence is not the answer.”

Rev. G. Lamar Stewart, pastor of Taylor Memorial Baptist Church, prayed for the neighborhoods across the city.

“I pray for every senior citizen, mother, father and every young person,” Stewart said. “I pray for our schools and our principals who feel overwhelmed because of the trauma and realities of what young people are facing right now.

“God we will not only bring you to go to those places, but we’re also praying that you give us the courage to be your ambassadors in those places,” he said. “God those are our sons and daughters and we pray that you use us. That we may intervene and interrupt the cycle of violence in our city right now.”

The Rev. Gregory Holston, senior advisor for policy and advocacy in the Philadelphia District Attorney Office, ended the event with a prayer to city leaders.

“In this symbolic center of the city where our leaders are housed, we pray for their spirit and their wisdom,” Holston said. “We pray for our Mayor. We ask you to be with her in every way. Give her strength and help her stand up against the racism and sexism she may face.

“We pray for our City Council God, so many of our members are brand new,” he said. “They are learning their ways, God, but let them learn from you more than anyone else. Let them be gentle in what they have to say, but firm when they have to be God.”

Holston also prayed for state leaders and asked God to give them strength while they are addressing crucial issues like education and gun violence.

“We pray for our house, state representatives and state leaders,” he said. “We pray for our governor and state senate. Right now, they’re fighting. We believe that they can make fast funding for our schools. We believe that they can bring the minimum wage up for so many people here.”