_ The Chronicle
Community Focus
Winston-Salem Greensboro High Point
skction C 1974- Celebrating 25 Years - 1999 Jolt 1, 1999
Reynolds Park Road Closed
The bridge over Salem
Creek on Reynolds Park
Road east of Martin
Luther King, Jr.. Drive has
been temporarily closed
due to settling of the
bridge deck. Reynolds Park
Road traffic is being
detoured on Martin Luther
King, Jr. Drive and
Waughtown Street.
Fun Fourth In Greensboro
The 25th annual Fun
Fourth Festival will take
place Friday, July 2-Sun
day, July 4. Fun Fourth
opens with a kickoff block
party on July 2 at The
Depot in downtown
Greensboro starting at 8
p.m. and closes with a con
cert and fireworks display
at Grimsley High School
on July 4. On Saturday, ~
July 3, the street festival
will take place in the Old
Greensborough Historic
District featuring food, arts
and crafts, a parade, 10K
run and other entertain
ment and games for chil
dren and adults. For more
information on this event
call 574-1000 or visit the
?un Fourth web site at
www.greensboro.com/festi
val. -
Freedom Day Celebration
Free all-you-can-eat bar
becue, deep fried fish, ham
burgers, hot dogs, corn on
the cob, ice cream and
more will be available to all
that attend "Fun in the
Sun" on Sunday, July 4. A
dunking booth, moonwalk
man, the basketball shoot
off, talent show and music .
featuring Nate & the
Chocolate Wonders are just
a few of the other activities.
This event will take place at
Evangel Fellowship^ 507
Balboa Street in Greens
boro, Starting at 10 a.m.
Black Leadership
Roundtable of
Winston-Salem
Anniversary Celebration
The Black Leadership
Roundtable of Winston
Salem will celebrate its sec
ond anniversary in con
junction with a reception
for Republic of Liberia
Ambassador Rachael
Gbenyon-Diggs on Friday,
July 9, from 7-10 p.m. at
the Urban League. The
Otesha Dance Ensemble
will provide the entertain
ment. Admission is free
and all attendees are asked
to dress in business or eth
nic attire. If you are plan
ning to attend RSVP by
July 7 to 767-6355 or 784- .
9373.
Sm Pug* CIO for moro of this
urook's Community Calendar
I
Prayer warriors
r* . > Hf,
Many gathered around the altar to offer prayer for many concerns affecting the local community and the world at large.
? - /? * .p. * i ? . ?
Goler holds night of prayer and redemption
By FELECIA P. McMILLAN
COMMUNITY CORRESPONDENT .. .
The Rev. Se|h O. Lartey is building an army
of 2,000.
And on Friday, he spent the whole night
training his troops.
The event marked the second time Lartey
and members of his Goler Memorial A.M.E.
Zion Church family gathered for a night of
Janico William*, wif* of tho hv. Carlton
William* of Mt. Moasant A.M.I. Zion Church in
Stototvillo, tang "toeauto Ho Uvo?."
prayer and redemption, \
While most of the city was tucked in bed, 25
members of Lartey's congregation spent the
night praying, singing and listening to sermons.
The service, which began at 10 p.m., ended
with breakfast Saturday morning.
During the night, the worshipers got a taste
of what it was like to be in battle.
"Can you imagine 2,000 believers praying
together for your well-being?" he asked. "How
heaven-shaking."
Friday's service was led by Minister Donna
Maree, who served as the master of ceremonies
for an all-night prayer vigil. Many of the war
riors came decked out in blue jeans, casual skirts
or dresses, but young and old, they came togeth
er to pray.
Some of the sohgs they sang included "What
a Mighty God We Serve," "There is Power in the
Blood of the Lamb," "Giving Honor" and
"Plant My Feet on Higher Ground."
At 5:30 a.m., they gathered in a circle and
joined hands in a final prayer session. A conti
nental breakfast was served at 6 a.m. These
night watches, often called tarry services, will be
held quarterly, Lartey said.
"Jesus asked his disciples to tarry with him in
the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew Chapter
26," said the Rev. Louis Hunter.
He encouraged the night watchers to seek for
a breakthrough when many of those in the con
gregation were growing tired.
"The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,"
Hunter said. "But we have the victory."
"We have so much power as Christians that
we are not using," Lartey said. "We are allowing
the enemy to take over. The Word of God says
that whatsoever we bind on Earth shall be
bound in heaven and whatsoever we loose on
Earth shall be loosed in heaven. We are just tak
ing the word of God seriously. It matters not the
quantity of people in the audience. We need
people who truly believe in the power of prayer.
If we had standing room only and the people
did not believe, it would be a waste of time. We
give all an opportunity, but we know that the
crehm will rise to the top."
When Lartey became pastor of Goler
Memorial in September 1992, he initiated a 40
day fast for the church body. Lartey said the fast
gave church members and leaders an opportuni
ty to participate to seek direction from God
about (he ministry of the church. From this
fast, a telephone prayer group began. Members
would contact one another in the mornings
before they began their busy routines.
Last September, Lartey moved the group to
another level by inviting them into the church
for daily 6 a.m. prayer.
"The emphasis we place on prayer stems
from the fact that Christians do not intentional
ly pray enough. Compared to Muslims who
pray five times a day, we do not pray enough,"
he said. "As spiritual beings, if we are to con
tinue the legacy that Jesus Christ left for us, we
must pray constantly and intentionally stay in
touch with God.... We have seen God answer
prayers for us. If anything will happen for us,
the local church, the community and our world,
it will come through the avenue of prayer," he
said.
Lartey selected to preach at various hours
during the the service.
Maree opened the service at 10 p.m. with a
sermon titled "Preparing for Worship."
The sermon was followed by sermons by
See Prayer on page CI
Minister Donna Mam served as the master of
ceremonies and preached the opening sermon of
the evening, "Preparing for Worship."
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