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  • The Rev. Richard Joyner prays during a gathering of Christian men Saturday morning at Edgecombe County Courthouse Square. More than 40 men attended.

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  • The Rev. William "Kenny" Parker, talks to Christian men who attended a gathering at the Edgecombe County Courthouse Square Saturday morning. Parker called the gathering to encourage the "Christian men to help fight the social problems in Edgecombe County."

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April 2, 2012

Christian men gather to discuss social problems

Sports Editor Calvin Adkins

TARBORO —

On March 17, an 18-year-old boy was shot in Tarboro. Warrants have been issued for his assailant.

On the following day, a double homicide occurred in Princeville. Law enforcement officers have not made an arrest in that case.

Fed up with social problems and violence that has become a plague in Edgecombe County, the Rev. William "Kenny" Parker held a gathering Saturday morning for Christian men, asking them to pray and "stand up."

"With the increase of the violence being perpetuated in our schools, the homes, homicides, drug traffic, gangs terrorizing our communities, there has to be a voice crying out saying 'stop in the name of Jesus'," Parker said. "There is power in the name of Jesus and every God-fearing brother needs to stand up and be counted as one crying to God to heal our land.

"Somebody has to stand. If we don't stand, then who's going to stand? If men would stand up, send some prayers up, God will show up and our community will be better."

Approximately 40 men, including about a dozen ministers, stood in the drizzling rain around the square's empty pool as Parker summoned their help.

"The vanguard must be the church leadership; pastors, ministers, deacons, church leaders, all must and should show some solidarity and be seen as leading the resistance to the movement of the enemy."

Parker said God has told him to call Christian men together for quite some time. The recent double homicide was confirmation that it was time for him to do it. Late Friday, he began summoning men.

"My FB (Facebook) brothers and sisters. I need your help BADLY! Please help me polarize all spiritual minded men regardless of race, denomination, age or church," Parker wrote on his Facebook page. "I am calling all spiritual minded men to stand up to the giants that are trampling the life out of our communities."

The Rev. Claude Carr Jr., who attended the gathering, knows all too well about the trampling. Carr's nephew, Quantellis Tyvon Carr, was murdered inside his Princeville home along with his girlfriend, Jasmine Leticia Chesson. The killings sent shockwaves throughout the community.    

"We are saddened by the things that are happening in our community," Carr said. "We need to come together. If we can come together, then we can bring about a big change. One can do a little, but a lot of us can do a whole lot."

Tarboro Town Councilman Taro Knight also attended the gathering. Knight said, "This was a good gesture. Everybody needs prayer, but I hope we can go beyond the prayer and put some other things in action. Once we get them to the Lord, we have to have the community put things in place to make them productive citizens."

Plans are already under way for another gathering. After Parker finished speaking, the ministers stepped one at a time, down and in the waterless pool to pray.

"Yes, we do know the churches have the power to have a greater influence in deterring the spread of the terror that plagues our communities throughout the county," Parker said, "Moreso than any other source. There is trouble all over the country, but we know we must first address the problems facing us in our own front yard.

"We're going to meet again and this time, we want at least 100 men standing around this pond," he said. "We can get at least 100 men to fit around this pond and we can make a difference."

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