Stop the Funeral revival begins today at churches
By Lee Williams
Published in News on May 10, 2007 1:46 PM
Eager to put an end to the rising number of violent crimes and murders that have plagued the city, more than two dozen pastors will participate in the Stop the Funeral Unity Revival today through Saturday.
The movement is in response to the shooting deaths of 23-year-old Raheim Kornegay and his girlfriend, 28-year-old Sharon Sheppard. Both were killed within four days of each other.
Kornegay was killed at Ms. Sheppard's home on April 22. Ms. Sheppard was murdered across from McIntyre Funeral Home April 26, where she had come to attend Kornegay's funeral.
Participating churches are expected to hold a revival at 7 p.m. today and Friday. The goal is to try to reverse the trend that has unnerved many residents.
The NAACP is hosting the event, said the Rev. William Barber II, state conference president.
"According to Luke 7, we must participate in ways that deal with the reality of death by choosing to act in ways that bring hope and possibility out of unusual and unacceptable situations of death," Barber said. "Therefore, the purpose of The Stop the Funeral Unity Revival is to be a first step in uniting the faith community and other community-based groups in a common agenda against violence and death."
At 9 a.m. Saturday, black church leaders and concerned citizens will gather at the NAACP's Goldsboro-Raleigh District Headquarters on Hooks River Road.
On that day, Barber said the NAACP will call for the community to participate in 60 days of prayer for hope, healing and peace. Barber said he will also unveil an action plan devised to reduce violence, narcissism and self-destruction in the community.
Here is a list of confirmed churches Greenleaf Christian Church, St. James African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Christ Memorial Interdominational Church, Christ Centered Church, Victory Faith Center, St. Mark Church, Tehillah Church Ministries, Word Faith Center, Foundation of Love Ministries, Body of Christ Ministries, Clifton Chapel Church, New Covenant Church Ministries, St. Matthew African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Holly Green Missionary Baptist Church, Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, Best Grove Missionary Baptist Church and Rebuilding Broken Places.