Sat, August 8th, 4:30-6:30pm

"True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice." ~Rev Martin Luther King, JR

On a hot day in August of 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln memorial, an eternal dream was articulated through the mouth of a young black preacher named Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As perhaps the most prolific communicator of the true American Dream, Dr. King spoke in that moment as the oracle of God. This dream captured the imagination of a generation, pricked the moral conscience of America, and thrust the historic Civil Rights Movement forward in hope.

"Pray on MLK" is a historic event for the Church to lift up one voice and to stand united in prayer in cities across the nation.

As a continuation of recent Prayer Vigils in Portland, people of faith will take their place on the walls of history, standing together for an end to systemic racism and police brutality through prayer, lament, and hope-filled worship.  

More details will follow on Facebook to coordinate exact meeting locations along Martin Luther King Blvd here in Portland, which is 6.5 miles long. 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

• 4:30 PM   Meet at Peninsula Park, located at 700 N Rosa Parks Way, Portland, OR 97217
• 4:45 PM. Hear from local pastors as we remember the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr
• 5:15 PM. March through Rosa Parks Way & MLK, Jr Blvd together
• 6:00 PM. Raise our voices in prayer and hopeful proclamation
• 6:30 PM Finish

A PrayerWalk will take place on Saturday morning, Aug 8th from 7am to 9am, wherein we will meet first at Pioneer Courthouse Square and then drive to Peninsula Park to arrive by 8am.  You can join us on site at the Square at 7am or at the Park at 8am.   The PrayeWalk will also on this ZOOM link.   Text James Autry at 503-515-5647 for more info. 

After witnessing George Floyd’s brutal murder, his last words reverberated in our souls. “I can’t breathe,” gave birth to the overdue cries of the masses who have finally concluded, “enough is enough.” Ever since, millions of people all around the world have used their breath to affirm and advance Black lives. 

Standing for justice, followers of Jesus organized an eight day prayer vigil in Portland last month. Each vigil acknowledged historical sites of racial injustice and led hundreds of participants in confession, lamentation, and prayers for restoration. People left the vigils with revived hope. But we must stay diligent. Historically, all major efforts to support the Black community have been followed by a disturbing reaction known as whitelash. This can come in the form of violent silence or violent assaults and both are rising in our city now. We recognize this struggle is not against flesh and blood. This is a spiritual battle and we must stand firm together to overcome. We must pray that the Holy Spirit would rid our hearts, our churches, and our city from the evils of racism. We must live out of our true reality as one Body, recognizing that when one hurts, all hurt, and when one suffers, all suffer. 

Followers of Jesus in the city of Portland will unite to encourage one another and cry out to God to heal our city. For 24 hours, beginning Friday July 17th at 6pm, we will gather to pray, worship, and read the powerful words of God. We believe this act will interrupt the spiritual warfare that is set against us as it also strengthens our unity in Jesus. We will overcome. 

Two ways to participate:

1. Come to pray and worship on site:

Irving Park, Friday July 17th, 6pm-9pm
(after sunset the prayer vigil will only be accessible online until Saturday morning)
Irving Park, Saturday July 18th, 6am-6pm

Social distancing protocols will be observed. Masks are required. Bring your own food and drink as needed. 
Join for all 24 hours or choose a shift to come and participate.

A canopy will be stationed at Irving Park to serve as the main gathering hub. Trusted local pastors and worship leaders of many ethnicities and denominations will meet there to lead us in prayer, worship, and reading the Bible. 

2. Stay to pray and worship from home. Participate online:

Follow the live stream from the MorePrayer Facebook page

Write out your prayers, worship songs, and Bible passages on this public google document during the 24 hour event: (link to be provided day of event).

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Portland Prayer Vigil
Friday, June 12th to Friday, June 19th from 5:30pm-7pm
at different locations throughout our city.  

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?" Isaiah 58:6

Our nation has reached the tipping point and America's historic foundations of justice and righteousness lay broken and fully exposed. When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do? God has not left us without a blueprint. It is time to run into the gaps, repair the breach and raise up the devastated places. Join us and thousands across the nation for 8 days of prayer and practical public action in the streets of Portland.

A beautiful organization called Civil Righteousness recently called the church in America to an Isaiah 58 Fast, which began on Saturday, May 30th and continues through June 19th, a date also known as Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when American slavery officially ended. 

Every city has places where something tragic and or divisive has occurred, which influences our ability to live together and love one another across cultural lines.  We call these “altars of pain”.  We want to join with others around the nation to put feet to our faith, by turning every altar of pain into an altar of prayer. 

We invite you to write on your mask, on the front or back of your shirt, or to hold a sign with words that declare the hope and justice of God as a prophetic declaration and prayer.  Some examples are: "Hope" "Mercy" "Peace" "Freedom" "Equality" "Justice" "Love"

This is a PEACEFUL act of Prayer and Unity.  Please do not bring signs that are controversial or political.  We are upholding, standing, and lamenting with the Black community in this moment. We have tents available if rain is likely. See Facebook for the latest details and instructions.

LOCATIONS (places of past or current pain):  (Google Maps to Locations)

• Fri, June 12th at empty lot across from Emmanuel hospital (over 400 houses were demolished for the hospital and Coliseum)
• Sat, June 13th at North Park Blocks, near 707 NW Everett (First black owned business in PDX)
• Sun, June 14th at the Historic Vanport Marker near the entrance to Delta Park, off of I-5 North
• Mon, June 15th at or near 3962 NE MLK (Possum incident and old Burger Barn)
• Tue, June 16th at the N Skidmore I-5 overpass (Kendra James memorial to represent those killed by police in Portland)
• Wed, June 17th at the new Oregon Convention Center plaza around the Martin Luther King, Jr statue on the corner of MLK, Jr Blvd and the MAX line (which is south of where the Choke Hold incident occurred near 7-11 at NE Weidler & MLK, Jr Blvd) 
• Thu, June 18th at the entrance to Laurelhurst Park at SE Pine & SE 33rd St (which is east of SE 31st & SE Pine, where Mulageta Seraw was killed by skinheads)
• Fri, June 19th along the Willamette River at the Japanese American Historical Plaza, just south of the black Steel Bridge 

SCHEDULE:

• 5:30pm,  Welcome and acknowledgement of what has happened in each place; prayers of repentance to lead into lament
• 5:40pm,  Silent prayer and lament: The silence will symbolize that we are listening, learning, and standing together as one.
• 6:10pm,  Prayers for the redemptive hope of Jesus in each place
• 6:20pm,  Worship
• 6:50pm,  Closing Remarks/Prayer
• 7:00pm,  Dismiss

PrayerWalks will take place at these same sites each morning at 7am.  You can join us on site & via this ZOOM link.  Text James Autry at 503-515-5647 for more info.