Standin’ in the Need of Prayer

Raleigh’s Martin Street Baptist Church (historically African-American) and Pullen Memorial Baptist Church (historically white) have a partnership that has extended over more than two decades. It grew out of the personal friendship of former pastors David Forbes and Mahan Siler. Both of them, by the way, have been leaders in the Council over the years, with David preaching at this year’s Legislative Seminar.

A call went out on Saturday from Nancy Petty, Pullen’s current pastor, for Pullen folk to go to services at Martin Street on Sunday as a way “to stand in solidarity with our African American sisters and brothers in this time of deep loss and injustice” following the racist massacre in Charleston’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Nancy’s suggestion was that Pullen people go to Martin Street’s 8:00 service, and apparently a lot did. Martin Street pastor Earl Johnson said that it looked like the “whole (Pullen) church” had showed up. A few of us — my wife and I and another couple from Pullen — didn’t make it to the early service but went at 11:00. Pastor Johnson recognized me and asked me if I wanted to offer any thoughts on Charleston.

(Some of you know that I don’t feel particularly competent at off-the-cuff remarks. The rascal William Barber takes great delight in putting me in the situation, once calling me up to speak at an NAACP service by saying that he knew I liked to speak extemporaneously. Apparently Rev. Johnson and Rev. Barber are working together on calling me out.)

I pulled together a few thoughts based on the spiritual “Standin’ in the Need of Prayer,” which had been the opening hymn. I commented on the reality that so many are in need of prayer following the shootings, as we saw what happens when the ugly face of racism is again combined with our country’s easy access to guns. I noted that we all stand in need of prayer as we figure out what we should do going forward to address both of these sins.

The thought occurred to me later — sadly, after it was too late for me to offer it as part of my remarks — that what I was saying was pretty much in conflict with the words of the song. Its point is that I am standing in need of prayer, not my father or mother or sister or brother or preacher or deacon, just me. It seems to me that tragedies like the one this past week say clearly that we are all in need of prayer. “It’s my father, it’s my mother, and it’s me, oh Lord, standin’ in the need of prayer.” “It’s my preacher, it’s my deacon, and it’s me, oh Lord . . . ”

And so I want to offer a couple of new verses:

It’s Emanuel and Pullen, and it’s all of us.

Standin’ in the need of prayer . . .

It’s the victims and the shooter and their families,

Standin’ in the need of prayer . . .

And it’s me, it’s me, it’s me, oh Lord,

Standin’ in the need of prayer.

‘Cause I am still in need of prayer.