Deacon Otis Littlejohn, State Rep. Rick Staples and Rev. Vincent Brown unite in prayer at Austin-East High School at the start of the annual Prayer Walk at area schools. (Photo P.Williams)
State Rep. Rick Staples, Deacon Otis Littlejohn, and Rev. Vincent Brown sending prayers for all who will enter Austin-East High School during the annual Prayer Walk. (Photo by P.Williams)
Knoxville, TN (August 23, 2020) – The light rains on Sunday morning, nor the dangers of the coronavirus pandemic deterred area pastors from holding their annual Prayer Walk at area schools.
On Friday Deacon Otis Littlejohn sent out a call to area pastors and prayer warriors to join him at Austin-East High School at 10 am from where they would proceed to other schools. He also made a call to State Rep. Rick Staples who said he was glad to help. Also present was Rev. Vincent Brown, Asst. Pastor at Greater Bush Grove Baptist Church in Mechanicsville where Rev. Eugene Connor, Sr is senior pastor.
They did not invite or expect any media presence, until I showed up. Their mission was not for recognition, but for the protection of children and the community they serve and love.
Additional ministers committed to visit schools and pray later in the day, as many had commitments for Sunday morning.
The faith-based trio knew they were not alone on their mission. According to the Word, they were enough. ‘… if two of you shall agree on earth as touching, any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them.’ -Matthew 18: 19-20.
The day before the start of schools in Knoxville, State Rep. Rick Staples laying hands in prayer at Sarah Moore Greene school, with Deacon Otis Littlejohn, and Rev. Vincent Brown. (Photo P.Williams)
Rev. Brown led the prayer at Austin-East. He began by reading Psalms 127:3-4; ‘Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Their prayers were for all who will enter the buildings.
From Austin-East the trio (+1 in the midst) continued on to Sarah Moore Greene, Fairgarden, Holston, and Sunnyview schools in the East Knoxville area.
Deacon Littlejohn is a native son and a member of Foster Chapel Baptist Church where he oversees a young men’s group under Pastor Joseph Tolbert. For 15-years, Deacon Littlejohn has hosted the Gospel Caravan radio show, founded by the late Rev. Louis Thompson over 60-years ago. Rev. Thompson mentored Littlejohn as a co-host and later a stand-in host when needed. Deacon Littlejohn has continued the Gospel Caravan radio ministry in Thompson’s honor. The show currently airs at 9 am, Sunday mornings at 99.7 fm.
The Prayer Walk has been on the Sunday before the first day of school in the Knoxville area for about 6-years. In previous years, the school building was opened for the event with dozens of attendees simultaneously at the schools. Those in attendance included principals, teachers, parents, clergy and community members. Thus the ‘Prayer Walk’ was throughout the school building.
(Others who participated in the Prayer Walk on Sunday, August 23rd, are invited to submit information and photos to be added and shared, to info@etelight.com.)
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