Tens of thousands of Christians assembled at Detroit's Ford Field stadium in prayer for Jesus Christ to bless the troubled city, but Muslims, liberals, and the media derided the event as intolerant and hateful because of TheCall organizers' belief in the Bible.
-- For background, read Prayer Essential to Save America and also read Christians Pray at California Capitol as well as Corporate Prayer for America in D.C.
UPDATE 5/16/14: 100s Detroit Black Pastors Denounce 'Gay Rights'
-- From "Sides of faith collide at Ford Field prayer rally" by Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press Staff Writer 11/12/11
Speaking to thousands inside Ford Field, the controversial leader of a 24-hour prayer rally in Detroit called Friday evening for Jesus to rule over Detroit, Dearborn and America. Otherwise, he warned, the U.S. will fall into ruin.
"We need Jesus' face to appear all across America," Lou Engle thundered to a cheering crowd at TheCall, a movement that has drawn criticism.
"Their message is not one of inclusion; it's of hate," said Jennifer Teed of Detroit, who opposed Engle's prayer event. "I don't see how that's religious."
"We believe that God wants to raise up a new worship sound out of Detroit," said Engle, who is based in Kansas City, Mo., at the International House of Prayer.
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From "Tens of thousands pray for Detroit at Ford Field rally" by Shawn D. Lewis and Leonard N. Fleming, The Detroit News 11/11/11
As people poured into the rally, a vocal but respectful crowd of about 50 people held signs that said "Love thy Neighbor" and "Pro-woman, Pro-Family, Pro-Choice" and chanted against hate and bigotry. They departed after about an hour.
Other local ministers like Bishop Wayne T. Jackson of Great Faith Ministries on the city's west side said they met with Engle Thursday night and "we are going to walk in love" to the event.
"I know people are getting confused about the rumors out there…And we know there's word out there in the Muslim community that we're coming out against them, but we're not," he said.
"This is not anti-anything. This city needs healing. We are praying that Muslims will convert because we believe Christ is the way," he said. "We pray that people will come to the cross. We pray that Buddhists will come to the cross, that everyone can come to the cross."
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From "Thousands Pray, Fast 24 Hours for God's Healing in Detroit" by Audrey Barrick, Christian Post Reporter 11/12/11
The event kicked off Friday night with participants fasting, praying and singing at Ford Field. With no big name bands or speakers, the event was touted as a solemn assembly, rather than a festival, where worshippers seek God.
The Pentecostal-style event consisted of worshipping and praying. Some participants opted to rest during some part of the 24 hours while others chose to stick it out all the way until the end – 6 p.m. Saturday.
Pastor Barbara J. Yoder, founding apostle and senior pastor of Shekinah Christian Church in Ann Arbor, Mich., stood on stage in the final hours of the event to motivate and challenge the city.
"God is beginning to overtake this territory and God is raising up leaders," she said. "God is calling you into the darkest places of Detroit.
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From "Attendees of the Call in Detroit say it wasn’t anti-Muslim" by Monica Drake, The Oakland Press 11/12/11
Matt Peyerk, 25, a member of Oakland Christian Church in Oakland Township, attended the Call . . .
“Issues like abortion, righteousness and justice in the social system were talked about. That’s about it,” Peyerk said. “Nothing has been mentioned about Islam. There hasn’t been a lot of talk devoted to it. We don’t hate the Muslims. We love them. We prayed for the Muslims and Arab people.”
Peyerk said a former terrorist spoke at the Call. “He was in a position of bringing harm to American people. He converted. For me, that was the most powerful part of the Call. He was apologizing on behalf of all terrorists,” Peyerk said.
Waterford resident Amy Maggi Terao said, “Apparently they speak about the terrorist attacks that root from Islam, which is an attack from Satan. This is just one part of their preaching, which if you ask me is relative to the times right now. Unfortunately, Muslims may be offended. It's kind of like when ‘Christians’ bomb abortion clinics and Christians get the bad rap.”
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From "Thousands answer 'The Call' in Detroit" by Sarah Cwiek, Michigan Radio (NPR) 11/12/11
Nathaniel Maccabees runs a group he calls "The Army of God Ministry" and attended the event. He said he thought it had a spirit of inclusion and unity, something he liked.
“In my opinion, I didn’t hear any anti-Islam rhetoric or anything like that,” Maccabees says. “We’re all God’s children, all Abe’s children at the end of the day.”
Gerrit Anderson came from Lansing to pray for Detroit and Michigan.
“It seems like the Lord’s anointing on Detroit, that he wants to move this city for some reason,” Anderson says. “Kind of taking a broken city and reviving it, and showing that picture to the nation. That he longs for America to come back to him, and to his love.”
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