Councilman JB Smiley, Jr. will partner with several area
pastors on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at 5:30pm to hold a Community Prayer Service. The
service will be held at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church (2237 South Parkway East,
Memphis, TN 38114), pastored by Dr. Frank E. Ray, Sr. “The church has always been a place of
refuge, and prayer is one thing that offers peace and healing to so many. This prayer service is
just one event in working toward more solutions to addressing gun violence in Memphis,” said
Councilman Smiley.

Eight area pastors will each offer prayers on topics such as gun violence, forgiveness, unity of
our community and families, healing and for the City of Memphis. Pastor Earle Fisher of
Abyssinian Missionary Baptist Church shared the following: “I deeply believe that prayers and
condolences are meaningful in this moment. Moreover, I’m committed to making this event part
of the broader efforts to move us beyond platitudes and into the type of practices and policies
that make these events less necessary. Thanks to Councilman Smiley for including me.”