Christians across America gather to pray for medical staff and patients

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Christians across America drove to hospitals last week to pray for medical staff and coronavirus patients. States involved in the “park and pray” initiative included Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, and Florida. Those who attended the prayer gatherings were instructed to practice social distancing so as not to risk spreading the virus.

In Louisiana, believers congregated at the Terrebonne General Medical Center at 7 p.m on Wednesday to pray for everyone inside it. Explaining their presence at the facility, event organizer Jaime Gaudet told the Times of Houma: “Sometimes we feel helpless in the community. We know what’s going on and want to help, but there’s only so much you can do. This is an opportunity for us. We can all do this.”

On Thursday, believers from around 24 Mississippi churches gathered outside the Memorial hospital in Gulfport and the Singing River hospitals in Pascagoula and Ocean Springs. Event organizer Eric Camp of Action Church said on Facebook: “The fact that ‘The Church’ united outside our walls to actually BE the Church and make a difference In the lives of all the medical professionals and patients at both Singing River Hospital and Ocean Springs Hospital will forever be remembered as a powerful time of unity and hope for our area.”

Prayer participant Brian Johns told WLOX what happened when staff of the Ocean Springs hospital appeared on the roof to thank those gathered: “I know the instructions gone out were not to honk, but as soon as they came out you could just feel the emotions swell up and horns start blowing.”

Referring to those who had gathered to sing and pray at the Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, the hospital later posted on Facebook: “It means so much that you thought of us. What a beautiful, creative, unexpected socially-spaced gesture to let the employees know you are with us. Stay safe!”

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