Local church leaders get involved in the 2016 election by encouraging their congregation to vote.
More than 50 local pastors and bishops are participating in Souls to the Polls, a nationwide effort to get churchgoers to cast their ballots.
“Some churches may have as many as 200 or 300 in their congregation,” Pastor Deshun Avery said. “And some may have as few as 10 to 15, but really it is important that we all get out there to vote.”
Pastor Avery, who works at Texas Tech with veterans, said in the past African Americans have not taken advantage of their right to vote.
“I think it is important just because of the history of voting and when you go back into where the African American community wasn’t allowed to vote,” Pastor Avery said. “And so now this generation that grows up now may kind of feel like it’s not important or it’s not going to make a difference. And so what we want to try to do is always encourage that that is our right to vote. And there were lives lost because of it. And so now we have the right to and the ability to influence.”
Pastor Deshun Avery is one of the local organizers. He said they were supposed to meet Tuesday night but Mother Nature had other plans. Pastor Avery still encourages anyone with interest in voting to meet them Tuesday morning at the United Supermarkets on 50th and the United Supermarket on Avenue Q. If you need a ride you can contact Pastor Avery at (806)765-0219.
First Christian Church on Broadway is opening their chapel on Election Day for a 12-hour prayer vigil. The service is open to anyone who would like to pray for our country. At 7:00 pm the church will hold a worship service as well.
