Pastor calls clergy to prayer for city

The Rev. Apostle Gloria M. James

LONG BRANCH - After recent acts of violence that resulted in four homicides in the city, one religious leader is calling on fellow clergy in the community to join forces and pray for a solution.

The Rev. Apostle Gloria M. James, pastor of the Power of Christ's Gospel Ministries on Joline Avenue, is holding a "Prayer for the City" on Saturday at 9:45 a.m. for any interested clergy.

"We are going to pray and seek the Lord for the answer," James said Monday.

"I want to get together and pray for the condition of our city," she said, adding, "[Pray because of] all the violence and all the shootings going on in our city.

"There is a lot of friction in the city with redevelopment, and since the shootings showed up one after another, it is a bit much," she said. "We really need to call on God."

James said the call to prayer will be an opportunity for clergy to come together and said she hopes it is the first of many meetings to come.

"If we could all come together once a month, or every other month," she said, "This could be the beginning of something."

James said the clergy will offer their prayers for the city.

"Everyone else is doing a discussion," she said. "We are going to pray. We are going to ask God."

For more information about the event, call (732) 870-3324.