Memphian Juliet Barnett dedicated plenty of time for her church’s upcoming 24-hour prayer event this weekend.

A Northwest Prep Academy teacher, Barnett hadn’t been home since 6:30 a.m. Friday. After she finished another week of teaching, Barnett arrived early to her church, Pursuit of God Transformation Center, ahead of its event starting later that evening.

“I was exhausted at work,” Barnett said Saturday morning. “I know I brought ‘weights’ in. They’re gone. I feel like I’m floating.”

Barnett is one of dozens who took time to attend Pursuit of God’s second annual 24-hour prayer event at 3759 N. Watkins St. in Frayser. The event began 7 p.m. Friday night and ran through 7 p.m. Saturday.

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Those gathered inside Pursuit of God’s sanctuary sat apart and wore masks. The event included not only prayer but also preaching and singing.

“Just to see some of the loyalty and hope of people who are staying here four hours, eight hours, 12 hours, we’re almost at 16 hours for some people,” said Pursuit of God Pastor Ricky Floyd. “Some will make the 24 hours. That’s just a level of commitment that you know God is going to honor and reward them for that. It’s going to make you feel good as a leader to have people here not for themselves, but making a sacrifice for this city, community, this neighborhood.”

The event was held in partnership with Pursuit of God and Prayer Garden of Memphis. Prayer Garden of Memphis was founded in 2012 by Pastor Marceline Williams. A ministry created to bridge the gap between denominations and encourage pastors to pray and work together for the community’s betterment. 

In 2018, the two groups merged their ministries together. That led to the first 24-hour prayer event in Frayser in 2019, which drew more than 200 people from five states, Floyd said.

Crime decreased, several key Frayser projects were announced and seemed to be trending upward for the neighborhood until the COVID-19 pandemic hit Shelby County in March.

“Saw major results, and they were going great until COVID,” Floyd said. “It’s like it snatched the effectiveness of our prayer.”

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Williams said the prayer is split into three parts. The first eight hours are dedicated to repentance, the second part on revival and final portion on reconciliation.

This year, some prayed for less crime in Frayser and Memphis. Some simply prayed for the community to turn its fortunes around. Others asked to release issues affecting them personally and to move forward.

For Barnett, her prayer centered on youths.

“It’s going to take more than school,” Barnett said. “You have to come out of the classroom. You have to come out of the church. It’s a community effort. Youths are hurting. They don’t know which way to go. They don’t know who they can trust. That’s why we need to introduce them to a God that they can trust.”