Community gathers in Warner Robins to pray for law enforcement officers

WARNER ROBINS -- Members of the community gathered in front of the Warner Robins Law Enforcement Center on Wednesday to honor the men and women in blue and pray for them.

The prayer event was spearheaded by Troy Wynn, senior pastor and founder of Freedom Church in Warner Robins. He quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14-16 from the Bible about the need for God’s people to humble themselves and pray, turn from wrongdoing and seek his face.

“I must tell you that this is an incredible moment for our city and time where we can come together just for prayer, coming together to recognize that police are important, that what they do matters,” he said.

“And even beyond that, recognizing that they need our help and our support.”

The event is part of a Paint the Town Blue effort led by Hope Bish, wife of Warner Robins police Sgt. James Bish. She got the idea from Facebook posts where other communities had organized a show of support for law enforcement.

“I want him to feel like he’s appreciated for what he does ... that it’s not for nothing,” she said.

Residents are encouraged to wear blue ribbons and put them outside their homes and businesses in support of law enforcement officers.

Several businesses had blue ribbons up Wednesday, including on utility poles outside Houston Medical Center. Many residents also had attached ribbons outside their homes.

“The amount of support that I’ve seen driving through the town, the signs, the bows. ... This prayer service that somebody else thought of and wanted to do ... it’s more than I thought it would be. It’s more than I imagined, and I appreciate everybody that has taken part in it,” Bish said.

Many in the audience had blue ribbons pinned on their clothing. Several of them wore black T-shirts that had the hashtag #prayforpolice printed on the front.

“We know and we realize that we are fortunate in our community,” Warner Robins police Chief Brett Evans told the crowd. “But we also know and we realize that we can be judged by one event, and that one event can make the difference for us as to what changes the overall perception.

“And because of that now we spend a lot of time in our training and exercises and things that we do. But as a community as a whole, we already are ahead of the game.”

Evans read from Romans 8:8-38, which talks about how believers are overcomers and that nothing can separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Johnny Ellison, senior pastor of Green Acres Baptist Church, quoted 2 Kings 6:16 in noting that there are more people who support law enforcement than those who do not.

Those gathered for the event joined hands to pray for officers and for the nation, which closed the event. Many who attended lingered afterward to shake the hands of police officers and sheriff’s deputies and thank them for their service.

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 10:27 PM with the headline "Community gathers in Warner Robins to pray for law enforcement officers ."