Ferguson’s 10 Year Journey from Rude Awakening to Spiritual Awakening.
Aug. 9, 2024 marked the 10th anniversary of the day when Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson shot an unarmed 18 year old Michael Brown. For the last few weeks, national news agencies such as the New York Times and NPR have revisited our city and the moment to explore its lingering impact. As a part of the week’s worth of commemorative events, activists gathered in front of the Ferguson Police Station on Saturday evening, Aug. 10.
For the first few hours, is was surprisngly peaceful, with congenial banter between attendees and positive interactions with police officers. However, after 11 p.m., many of the community members departed as the evening wore on. The protest grew violent when a few people began to assault the protective fence in front of the police station. This forced officers to make arrests, which was met with violent resistance. A few officers were hurt, with Officer Travis Brown (an African American who had just started serving in Ferguson in January to “make a difference”) being seriously injured after a protester knocked him to the ground, his head smacking the pavement. He is currently still in a coma.
This event has rocked the City of Ferguson. After years of purposeful, concerted reform with both law enforcement and the city government, working towards improving interactions between the police and the community, it felt like Ferguson was back at square one – in the news once again for a violent protest. And now, a police officer is fighting for his life. Citizens of all cultural backgrounds have been appalled, saddened, broken with grief along with the officers, family, and city leadership.
But the story doesn’t end there.
An initial prayer vigil led by Pastor Jonathan Thomas and Hannah Herum (Co-Director of Ferguson Prayer Furnace) occurred on the following Sunday. You can watch a little of that vigil in the video below.
But God was just getting started and His Spirit was stirring hearts. Just two days later, on Tuesday morning, Pastor JT was invited to the Ferguson police station to meet with Rev. Jose Aguayo, the head police chaplain. During their meeting, Chaplain Aguayo informed Pastor JT that the Chief of Police received news that there would be a Prayer Vigil at the station that evening at 5:30pm. Aguayo stated that if CR was organizing it, he preferred that it be later in the week in order to give the city staff and officers a break after such an intense 7-10 days. However, we were not involved in the planning and the city had already announced the vigil on all of their outlets.
At 5:30 p.m., hundreds of people were there along with all of the local news outlets. When Pastor JT arrived, they called him to the front and asked, “Are your people here? We’re ready to get started. You organized this, right?” Perplexed, he responded that he would have been happy to help in the planning and would be happy to help them lead the gathering, but he didn’t organize this. They asked, “Well who did?” He made a phone call to someone else that may have been responsible but that individual was clueless. With no human leader present to take charge or to take credit, it appears that God Himself called the city to pray and repent.
Therefore, Chaplain Aguayo and Pastor JT stepped into leadership in that moment, along with many other local clergy who all prayed with power and humility as the city returned to the Lord. After consecrating the land as Holy Ground, the Mayor sang about the redemptive power of Jesus’ blood. We watched in awe as the Spirit of Lord governed the gathering, which is what one would expect…
When God calls the prayer meeting.
Yesterday [Aug 13], a miracle occurred before our very eyes in the heart of our city. Hundreds showed up to a public prayer meeting with the police, all of our elected officials, and clergy. But NO ONE could figure out who called it. NO ONE organized it, and NO ONE knew who was leading it. Yet, the Spirit of the Lord moved among us powerfully as we humbled ourselves before heaven and before one another. I truly believe it was a moment for Ferguson (and possibly American) history that we will point to as a turning point in the years to come. ~ Jonathan Thomas from IG
Photo Credit: Tim Larson
Photo Credit: Tim Larson
The prayer vigil for Officer Travis Brown that “no one called” in front of the Ferguson Police Station on Tuesday evening, Aug. 13, 2024.
Source: August 22, 2024 Newsletter from Civil Righteousness
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