Prayer walk aims to end loyalist feud
By Ashleigh Wallace
31 August 2005
A north Belfast pastor is planning on taking to the streets this weekend for a ‘prayer walk’ aimed at halting the loyalist feud.
For the last two nights, Pastor Jack McKee from the New Life City Church and members of his congregation spent hours delivering leaflets to houses in the Ballysillan and Silverstream areas where several murders and shootings have occurred in recent weeks.
The leaflets are being used to inform local residents of a series of prayer walks which will be taking place each Sunday for the next four weeks.
Following a set rota, a total of 50 ‘New Lifers’ will be turning out in teams to pray both for an end to the feud and for those families who have suffered as a result of recent paramilitary violence.
Speaking yesterday, before the last of the leaflets were delivered, Pastor McKee said: “All too often, the church is seen as the silent voice in the community. We at New Life want to try and reverse that and give the church a voice.
“When people are killed or seriously injured, it’s usually the minister who goes to the hospital or who goes to see the bereaved families.
“So, rather than just being there for people, our church wants to try and prevent the bereavements and hospital visits from happening.”
Pastor McKee spent Monday evening and last night delivering leaflets in north Belfast.
When asked about the mood in Ballysillan, Pastor McKee said: “There is still quite a lot of tension.
“Local people appreciate things are quiet at the minute but many feel this is a lull and there are concerns plans are afoot for more lives to be taken in the coming weeks.”
The Belfast pastor also revealed that during the prayer walks, leaflets will also be handed out to “the leadership of the organisations involved in the feud” as well as members of the security forces to ensure their presence is known.
The first prayer walk is due to take place between 9pm and midnight on Sunday.
Each person taking part in the walks will be wearing a white armband with a red cross.
Residents have also been invited to speak with team members or pass on a note with prayer needs when they are out on the street.
