Breaking Racial Barriers And Seeking Answers In Louisiana

16 January 2011

Photo by ResonateNews.com
OVERCOMING: Ruby, right, Robert and Robin Green of Victory Bible Church of Arkansas, serve communion with Roger Merschbrock of the Louisiana Apostolic Prayer Network on Saturday at Grace Bible Church in Homer, La. Prayers for healing from racism and anti- semitism were offered by the Rev. Dr. Ruby Green.  The meeting was held two days before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

By Patrick Butler
ResonateNews.com

North Louisiana has its own set of societal problems, said long-time state resident Judy Watson, who attended the Glory Invasion meetings at Homer’s Grace Bible Church Friday and Saturday. She was seeking answers and direction from God about drug addiction, recidivism, and lingering racism near Grambling University and North Louisiana Tech. University where she lives.

She was not alone.

The meetings united state-wide prayer “intercessors” - those who pray specifically for the problems of others -  from as far as New Orleans and Lake Charles, La.  to Shreveport in purpose and prayer for all of Louisiana, not just their regional locations. About 50 leaders and staff  from various Louisiana  prayer networks along with supporters from Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas,  declared their intent to “stand together” in turbulent times, addressing real-life everyday issues such as racism, ethnic divisions and "broken lives."

“We are not on our own anymore,” said Roger Merschbrock, head of the LAPN and Prayer Focus Ministries, at the meeting.  "We're here to say, 'We are going to stand together.'"

The Rev. Dr. Ruby Green of Victory Bible Church of El Dorado, Ark. challenged the gathering on Saturday afternoon to lay aside preconceptions, bias, criticism. and personal discomfort  and embrace "true unity."  There were still covert and overt traces of historical anit-semitism and racism existing in the tri-state area of Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas, even among Christians she said.

"Any of you who whose family had once owned slaves, and want prayer to break that (historical) connection because you think it may be affecting your attitudes today, please come forward."

About 15 people in the room, stood.

"Now, if you think your family owned slaves, or that your attitudes have been affected by historical slavery," Mrs. Green said, "please stand."  More than half the room of about 100 attendees stood. Mrs. Green prayed for spiritual healing "for all those with the courage to stand and look deeply into their hearts."

Communion was served afterwards, as an event leader called for a spontaneous expression of the significance of standing against racism and historical bitterness in Louisiana. Conference attendees came forward silently, many in prayer, and many stopping to hug Ruby, Robert and Robin Green who served communion.

Saturday morning speaker Todd Trahan of Intercessors for Louisiana said, “Don't be afraid to be flexible, be available and be ready to rescue people," he said. "I don't know what kind of problems we will be facing the future, but we must to be ready to have the love of God in our hearts no matter what comes. What’s been happening here (at the conference) and what this means, is that we are not going to be doing the same things, in the same way.”

For information about Prayer Focus Ministries visit the Web at www.prayerfocusministries.com. For information about Intercessors for Louisiana visit the Web at www.pray4govt.org. For information about Kenshire Ministries visit the Web at www.Kenshire.org. Visit the Web at www.TXAPN.org for information about the Texas Apostolic Prayer Network.