Prayer Vigil...

[From EURWeb]

CISSY HOUSTON SAYS PRAY FOR THE CHILDREN:
Whitney's Mom to pray with NY radio station

(Apr. 2, 2004) *Cissy Houston, singer and mother of Whitney Houston, has probably put in some deep knee time over Whitney, but now she's encouraging other mothers to do the same.

Next week begins Holy Week and Monday, April 5, Ms. Houston, along with KISS-FM and prominent New York area ministers, will lead a prayer vigil from 7-9pm at Harlem's historic Abyssinian Baptist Church, located at 132 Odell Clark Place (138th Street between Lenox Ave. and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd.).

Ms. Houston is calling on mothers to pray for their sons and daughters who are affected by substance abuse. A number of well-known entertainers, Pastors and community leaders from the New York metro and Tri-state vicinity, will join Houston and KISS-FM at the prayer vigil. The list of participating clergy include Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, Bishop George Seawright, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Joe A. Carter, Rev. DeForest Buster Soaries, Jr. and Rev. Lester Taylor.

Houston hopes the vigil will remind mothers of the power they have "to come together in prayer, to pray for our children for healing and deliverance."

Rev. Calvin Butts, Pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church, who will open the prayer vigil, added, "So many of our young people find themselves in challenging situations. Parents, spouses, family members and friends are giving as much as they can. We, as a community can under gird that support with our prayers. Prayer changes things and we are praying for the recovery, health and strength of all our young people who are challenged by the scourge of drugs and alcohol."

Toya Beasley, Program Director at KISS-FM summed up the event saying, "In the past we've taken a stand on hard issues like violence and disease, but we never talk about the devastation caused in our communities and to our families from substance abuse. KISS-FM wants you to stand with us at the Abyssinian Baptist Church as we come together for a powerful evening of prayer. We're coming together to save lives because KISS cares."

NEWSFILE: 2 APRIL 2004