Across the street from the burned out Little Caesars’ Pizza on N. Florissant in Ferguson, MO, is the property of the First Baptist Church of Ferguson, MO.
The church’s Shepherd and my Pastor, Stoney Shaw, assesses that “Ferguson is a fantastic community!” He notes that very few of those arrested for the senseless damage of looting, burning, and other destruction, were from Ferguson.
With the church’s estimated 30 to 70% black to white racial mix, my Pastor provides examples of the church’s seizing opportunities to honor Jesus in numerous ways in showing love and help to the needs of Ferguson. In this brief time of radio, Pastor Shaw provides a number of notable examples.
Fresh in his memory is a recent press conference of Ferguson’s Mayor James Knowles. It was to be seen locally, nationally, and even in other parts of the world. Pastor Shaw has no other experience in which to compare it: Mayor Knowles sent out an invitation to Ferguson and area clergy … area “shepherds” … to meet with him and pray, then stand behind him during the press conference.
Mayor Knowles was personally aware of the power of prayer! In the time of prayer of the shepherds before going out and meet the press, one of the pastors’ urged that hands be laid on him in prayer, which they did.
“The last time you did this,” he reported to the group “my wife got pregnant!”