“How Great is Our God” was the song that opened the prayer vigil for U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee which took place on June 11 at the Community of Faith Church (1024 Pinemont Dr., Houston, 77091).
Khambrel Marshall, longtime news personality with KPRC 2 Houston, who recently retired, served as the vigil’s officiator.
Marshall opened the vigil with words heard in Black churches across the country and the world from time immemorial.
“This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it,” said Marshall, setting the cheerful, faith-filled and optimistic tone for the gathering. “What a great night this is for us to come together to offer praise and thank you to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.”
And to those unfamiliar with the Black Church tradition, Marshall’s words may sound strange under the circumstances, with Jackson Lee battling a rare and deadly condition – pancreatic cancer – that is most often diagnosed in non-Hispanic Blacks. Pancreatic cancer is said to be so deadly because it is most often diagnosed in its later stages.
Still, attendees knew their gathering wasn’t a political event, as Community of Faith Church’s pastor and president of NAACP Houston, Rev. Dr. James Dixon II explained to Fox 26’s Isiah Carey just minutes before the service started.
“It’s going to be a picture of Houston’s diversity,” said Dixon. “It’s going to be a unified experience. It’s Black, white, Brown, Asian; Democrat, Republican; it’s young it’s old… So, many people are pouring out love. It’s going to be an inspirational evening with gospel music and prayer and scripture. This is about faith and prayer. We are praying for the Congresswoman to pull through this. Her gift to us as she has blessed our community is something that we treasure and we want to see continue. So, tonight, it’ll be faith, it’ll be family, it’ll be unity, it’ll be spiritual and inspirational all at the same time.”
And Dixon was not wrong.
“This is a prayer event, much bigger than politics. Our God is in control,” Marshall told event participants, before asking those who had been impacted personally or indirectly by the efforts of Jackson Lee.
And on cue, the hundreds gathered stood up as one amid cheers, ovations, shouts and tears.
A long litany of ministers graced the pulpit, reading scriptures and offering prayers.
“Faith has a sound. Faith has a sound. Faith has a sound. Wherever somebody is in faith, there’s a sound that goes with it. And tonight we gather as people of faith,” stated Dixon during his opening remarks to vigil attendees. “If you know that God is a prayer answering God make a sound of faith. If has ever opened a door for you, make a sound of faith. If God has ever made a way for you make a sound of faith. If you’ve ever seen God heal somebody make a sound of faith. If you’ve ever seen somebody with a testimony of the power of God make a sound of faith. Because all night, we’re going to make a sound of faith.”
Dixon also encouraged attendees by sharing, “A miracle is never needed where ordinary will do. God never gets a chance to be God unless there’s something that only God can do… Only God can divide the Red Sea. Only God could cool the fiery furnace… Only God can raise Jesus from the dead. And only God can raise Sheila Jackson Lee back up. And thank God the same God that did the sea, the same God that cooled the fire, the same God that raised Jesus is the same God that’s going to lift Sheila Jackson Lee up.”
Attendees were also blessed by praise dancers and countless songs, including songs by nationally renowned gospel recording artist Brian Courtney Wilson.
Before the vigil even started, Dixon shared words with Fox 26’s Carey about Jackson Lee’s spirits.
“She’s inspired by the Friends of Sheila who’s organizing this prayer event tonight. Her family says you can see her strength being energized by the fact that so much love, so much prayer has been poured into her direction. Of course, this is a very serious challenge for her. But she’s a fighter. She’s the kind of person you have to say, ‘No, you have to be still.’ And we know up to a couple of weeks ago she was still trying to fulfill a lot of her responsibilities. But she’s taking care of herself under the doctor’s care, her family is loving on her and the community is praying for her.”
