"God Belongs in My City" Prayer Walk comes to Mount Vernon

After four to six months of planning, the God Belongs In My City Prayer Walk took place on Saturday, September 22, in Mount Vernon, New York. At 10 a.m., ten churches congregated in the parking lot of the Mount Vernon East train station to begin a walk like no other. It was Westchester's very first God Belongs In My City Prayer Walk and it was an intercessory march, where children, youths, and adults alike took to the sidewalks and sent up dynamic prayers to God hoping for a stop to the violence in Mount Vernon and other negative happenings that occur.

Teen wearing a "God Belongs in My City" shirt

Before departing from the train station's parking lot, there was an opening prayer, a quick explanation of the walking route, a note of the sidewalk-only policy, and a reminder of why everyone was there. At that point, everyone filed out of the parking lot and made their way up the block, heading towards the heart of the city. Numerous participants wore the "God Belongs In My City" T-shirts (that came in both black and white) and hoodies, others waved flags, and some led the large group in a praise and/or worship song.

This Walk, coordinated by Leon Stewart, consisted of close to 100 people. Stewart is a Minister and Youth Director at Strait Gate the Church at Westchester and Co-founder of the Kingdom Xpressions Youth Ministry and according to him, the idea of God Belongs In My City is not his, but that of Pastor Daniel Sanabria of Park Slope Tabernacle in Brooklyn.

"This is a movement that was birthed in New York City about four years ago and has been growing around the world ever since," Stewart said. "They have been to Europe, Africa, a number of other cities in the U.S. and will be having one in Haiti later this year."

Brother Nyan leading prayer at City Hall

The Walk was organized by the team from the Kingdom Xpressions Youth Ministry Coalition, which is a group of youth leaders from ministries across Westchester. There were a few other cities in Westchester being considered by the coalition to pray for, but according to Stewart, they believe that with all that Mount Vernon was going through, especially in the early part of the year, that the City of Mount Vernon needed to be prayed for.

The Prayer Walk spanned several blocks, with a few stops to gather as a group and pray. One of the stops included Mount Vernon's City Hall, where the group gathered by the steps, and were led into prayer by Living Faith International Church Youth Leader, Eugene Akahoho, and then by Co-Youth Leader Nyan Boateng. The group then directed prayers towards the Police Department across the street, praying for the officers' safety.

The final stop was at Hartley Park, in which a huge prayer circle was formed and everyone's hands were joined as the concluding prayer was said.

Prayer circle at Hartley Park

The God Belongs In My City Prayer Walk lasted about two hours and turned out to be a successful event. The weather warmed up as each minute passed, the sun shined brightly and everyone had something positive to say about their experience.

"Today's walk was amazing!"  Executive Director of Public Relations for Living Faith Church Youth Ministry Nana Achampong said. "It is refreshing to know that there are youth from other churches around ours that have the same passion and drive that we have to saving our generation of people."

Shanik Carvey, a college student and member of the Living Faith Youth Ministry, said that it made her feel empowered to stand unashamed and walk for the Lord.

"'God Belongs In My City' walk brought a great feeling of unity and boldness as I walked side by side other youths and adults in the name of the Lord," Carvey said. "I really enjoyed the pace of the walk, and I thought that the points we stopped at were great for prayer and really standing in the gap for the Mount Vernon area."

18-year-old Markeisha Knott, from the Bronx, is also a member of the Living Faith Youth Ministry and is glad she was apart of the walk. "I enjoyed the walk," she said. Seeing the numbers, especially youth come out to praise God was incredible; and I could tell we were making a difference by the way we made heads turn all around Mount Vernon."

"I loved the prayer walk!" Stewart said. "I was glad with the turn out from the young people and from the support from the different ministries in Mount Vernon."

"The goal of the intercession was to pray for a stop to the violence and especially the loss of young lives; and for changed lives for the young people and that God’s love would permeate," he said.

"From our journey today, I learned that though salvation is for oneself, interceding for one another and even strangers can, in some way, have an impact," Achampong said.

The Walk has ended and participants make their way back
to Mt. Vernon East parking lot

"I wanted to tell everyone that God is so good and you should know him for yourself! I loved it!" Carvey said. "It also gave me energy to walk in school also known as the war zone for many. If I can walk the streets of Mount Vernon and pray for them, surely school is another place where the name of God can be lifted up. From the way I speak to people, to hugs, and showing love where it's needed."

"My hope is that they [the youths] were able to relate with other members of the Body of Christ," Akahoho said. "My hope for the Impacting Youth Members [of Living Faith Int'l Church] was that they saw other youths also hungry for the move of God and on fire for him."

"I hope the message resonate well for everyone to see the body of Christ can come together and work as one," Stewart said. "Seeing young people who are willing to take a stand for their city and the church has a unique position to take a lead and give this and future generations the empowerment and legacy to build on in making real tangible difference through prayer, faith and unity."


More information about the God Belongs In My City Movement, can be found at: www.Godbelongsinmycity.com.

Follow the Movement on Twitter @GBIMC

The memory embedded in America one decade later: The 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks

“Where were you on September 11, 2001?” is a question that many individuals, who were of age at the time, can answer in immense detail. The memory still remains embedded in the minds of those who may have witnessed the horrific scene of the planes striking the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, those who ran up the street of Manhattan after the buildings’ collapse to escape the smothering smoke and ash or even those who were spectators of this fateful occurrence via-television.

Freshman Kristin Shackleton was in her 3rd grade classroom in Illinois at the time of the attacks in 2001.

“A teacher came in to explain [what had happened],” Shackleton said. “I was extremely confused.”

Shackleton said she saw the plane hit the building on the TV when she got home. At the time, she truly thought it was closer to home than it actually was.

Senior Sydney Brown was in Bloomfield, Connecticut 10 years ago, sitting in her 6th grade Social Studies class.

“I remember my teacher found out and started crying,” Brown said. “I didn’t understand and I couldn’t even grasp it.”

At that time, Brown had never been to New York and so the occurrence of a terrorist attack was something that she couldn’t entirely comprehend. Years later, she began meeting different people from New York and was exposed to other points of views and received a brand new insight of that unforgettable day in 2001.

“It could have easily been me,” Brown said. “Those people were just as innocent. It makes you think—to really live your life and keep yourself in check.”

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the September 11 Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, there will be a Remembrance/Memorial Service in the Social Room of the John J. Cox Student Center at 6 p.m. tonight.