Bluff Strong Community Prayer Service: prayer for peace and restoration

As the work day ended, Thursday, several local pastors and the Three Rivers College Community Choir came together inside First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff to lead a hurting community in prayer.

Prior to the beginning of the service, multiple people visited with each other and shared tales of things they had witnessed and experienced since the dangerous events of just six nights previous.

“I think it’s important for this community to have this service, to bring everyone to God in prayer,” explained Rep. Hardy Billington. “Jesus was asked, what is the greatest commandment and he said: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ And I think that’s what we need here, is for people to love God and love each other.”

Poplar Bluff Mayor Shane Cornman said he feels the service could help people heal from what they experienced.

“Ever since all of this began, it has been a community effort,” Cornman remarked. “I see the rapid response to the problems from this tornado, and overall, the way things have been expedited have been very pleasant for the community.”

As the service started, Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers spoke to the small crowd and immediately remarked on the unity that has become obvious in the community. First Baptist Church Pastor Brandon Spain then gave a prayer and spoke briefly about the current state of things locally.

“Tonight is designed around three words: request, reflect, and rebuild,” Spain noted. “I would like to share what Paul wrote in the book of Philippians chapter four, verse four: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice.”

Spain noted there has been much anguish in the area since last Friday, but he said there have also been wonderful acts of service within the community.

The TRC Community Choir, under the direction of Pam Becker, sang “America the Beautiful,” and later sang “I will carry the light.”

Myers took a somber tone while addressing everyone as he acknowledged the loss of Ron Ezell during the tornado. A single candle was lit in his memory as Myers went on to explain how TRC is establishing a scholarship in Ezell’s name.

Following the service, Ezell’s daughter Cassie Cannon privately said she thought the service was “wonderful.”

“I can honestly feel my father’s presence here tonight,” she said as she choked back tears. “My dad would be so humbled by this outpouring of appreciation.

“I dreamed that I spoke with him on the phone Saturday night. He asked me if he was dead, and he told me he was OK. And he told me to make sure my mom and the dogs are taken care of. I feel like he’s still with me.”

Multiple pastors offered prayed for different before the service was closed by Bishop Ron Webb of the Mount Calvary Powerhouse Church of God. Webb prayed for restoration.

“In our hearts, we know this is not the end of the story,” Webb prayed. “When we come to the end of our strength, may your peace comfort us.”

Jim Gentry, who is in town with the Texas Southern Baptist Chainsaw Crew, said he was very moved by the service.

“There is still a lot of work to be done,” Gentry said. “But this really is a strong community and we’re happy to help.”

Cheryl Terrell, of Poplar Bluff, said she was glad the prayer service took place.

“The community needs this,” Terrell said. “And the community needs to realize how many pastors and church members want to walk through this situation with them.”