This was my 19 year old godson Mario McGee. A wonderful person, a hard worker, family oriented individual and an up and coming musician and songwriter. May God forever bless his memory.Unfortunately, his death was the first murder of 2009 in the Peoria community and will hopefully be the last. In this post, I will share with you the contents of an email sent to as many area pastors as I could find in efforts to ask them to help us address the community terrorist group responsible for this killing. It is reported that gang warefare has existed in Peoria for quite some time. Particular groups have been responsible for multiple beatings, shootings and now a home invasion murder has been added to their list of misdeeds. It is time for the Pastoral community to rise once again to combat this enemy and transform the streets of our community and allow our children to live in safety.
We have finished another 40 Day Prayer Vigil, now, it is time to act.
Here is the email sent today Sunday Feb. 8th 2009:
2/8/2009
Pastors & Friends,
Thank the Lord for each of you and the ongoing prayers for the safety and condition of Peoria.
I call upon you in hope to motivate you to stand along with us physically as we move into this 2009 battlefield against satan and the unseen powers that would terrorize our community:
Ephes. 6:11 ~ "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
For those of you who don't know or were not aware, I was the godparent of now deceased Mario McGee. Slightly over 19 years ago I held that young man in my hands feeding him a bottle and changing his pamper. It does my heart no good to have to bury him this week as he should have been a pallbearer or minister at my funeral.
Since our march and community rally of June 2006, that led to the areas first Gun Exchange, that led to the areas first 40 Days Of Prayer effort under Pastor Preston, That also included multiple other prayer efforts such as the Transformation Celebrations directed by Pastor Eckhardt and others, this area has not seen such a heinous crime or murder perpetuated upon a family. Mario begged that his mother's life was spared and God honored that prayer and although she was intended to be killed she is alive and dealing with the results today.
We are facing what I have known as a crisis for quite some time. Although the murder rate was down 2008 the incidence of illegal gun usage was up and there were people and cars shot at on a routine basis. (Gangs) with (their)/ it's loose network of community terrorist associates, have taken it upon themselves to terrorize our communities and inner city. We must act and must act as a cohesive group to defeat the enemy that is fueling these (various factions). However we will not fight with the weapons known and respected in the streets:
2 Cor. 10:3-4~ "3-For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4-(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)"
It is my prayer that you will join me at a community pastoral meeting to address this urgent situation at which I will unveil information that is essential in assisting with our understanding of this enemy that we face. I also plan to unveil a community strategy that will involve you and your church in a proactive method of attack against this terrorist group. I am convinced that our inaction is fuel to the flames of the community terrorists who have staked claim to our schools and our streets. It must end and that end must begin with us and our churches. I do not believe that we can expect a government bailout to assist us with this one.
Please join me at 6:30 PM Thursday evening at Higher Dimensions Worship Ctr. at 2610 W. Nebraska Peoria, IL. (Pastor Bob Randle)
Please pass this urgent request on to associates and other pastors who may also be interested in taking strong action against this (these) community terrorist group(s). Thank you and God bless you greatly.
Pastor Harvey BurnettPeoria Assn. Of Pastors For Community & Spiritual Renewal Peoria, IL. 61615 (309)688.6599ofc. (309)648.8659cell
