Strangers turned to one another in the lobby of City Hall, put their arms around each other and began to pray.
On New Year’s Eve — a night police were out in full force — the Federal Way church community prayed for their safety, the health of local firefighters and peace between city officials and citizens during Federal Way’s first prayer rally.
Approximately 20 pastors organized the rally not to address politics or racial divide but to simply bring together the community in prayer in times of tension and disagreement surrounding police brutality and racism in other parts of the country.
“I think this is amazing what’s happening here,” said Federal Way resident Stephn McNeal, a former Human Services Commission chair, who once served with late Rep. Roger Freeman. “Black, white, Asian and Hispanic to be interested in change.”
International House of Prayer Northwest Pastor Gary Wiens, a co-organizer of the rally, said the idea came to his wife Marie, also a pastor of the church.
“She has this amazing thing of hearing from the Lord while she’s in the bathroom getting ready for the day,” Wiens said.
Her idea to pray for police on New Year’s Eve evolved after a meeting with co-organizer Andre Sims, a pastor at Christ the King Bible Fellowship.
Sims’s idea was to broaden the gathering to pray for “wisdom and protection of the Lord” to the whole police force and community.
After meeting with 20-26 pastors, Wiens said the rally came to fruition in a matter of a few short days.
“When our pastor told us, I thought it was important because of prayer,” said local resident Annette Evans, who attends Christ the King Bible Fellowship in Federal Way.
Evans explained she would not have been interested in the prayer rally if it took a turn to discussing the issues of racism and discrimination in a political sense.
“We came to pray,” Sims said. “We didn’t come to talk politics.”
But what they did come to discuss was God’s will for people to have love and compassion for one another.
“As things intensify in our nation, we just really need the perspective of the Lord,” said Overcomer Covenant Church Pastor Gordon Banks as he spoke to the crowd of more than 50. “… We’re different, we have different tastes in music … but we’re all children of God.”
Banks noted it’s good for pastors and city leaders to come together in the community when it’s not based on confrontation.
McNeal, who has had five children in the Federal Way Public Schools system, said with the recent turmoil in the country, he’s found it peculiar yet “refreshing” to see people of different races coming together. He was particularly moved by an image of someone who wasn’t African American holding a sign that read, “Black lives matter.”
McNeal said for so many years he’s heard stories about police brutality — a young black male shot in the chest by police, only to be covered up to appear as a suicide — but it’s different now with the “Internet age,” which shines a light on real situations.
“I have a lot of friends that work in the police force,” he said, adding that he has “major respect” for police officers. “But as an African American, when I get pulled over, I’m still afraid.”
The longtime resident said he’s grateful to live in Federal Way. He said it’s important to recognize that it’s not the suit someone’s wearing, but the heart inside.
“Something special is happening here and the incidents around the country are a catalyst for change,” he said. “Every life matters.”
Police Chief Andy Hwang said that “there’s no way the city and police can do it alone” and that they are sustained by the faith community.
“The key thing is communication,” Hwang said, adding that he appreciated the community coming together to pray for the police department. “Police officers have a difficult job.”
Thrilled with the turnout of about 100 people, Wiens said next steps include a potential monthly pastors meeting, as well as to continue to develop strong relationships with other pastors and city officials.
