Alderman TJ Mayfield Announces City-Wide Prayer and New Year’s United Day January 1

VICKSBURG, Miss. – Alderman TJ Mayfield, Ward 1 has announced the approval of a City-Wide Prayer and New Year’s United Day at Washington Street Park on January 1, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Below is Alderman Mayfield‘s statement.

Dear Christian Friends,

On behalf of the Ward 1 Alderman’s Office and the City of Vicksburg, I wish you all a safe and joyful holiday season. The holidays are a time to reflect on the past year, express gratitude, and come together as a community. Regardless of our race, creed, gender, denomination, or political affiliation, this is a time for unity and mutual support. Vicksburg is a remarkable community, yet we have failed to support one another as a unified Christian body for too long. With over 300 active churches in our area, it is imperative that we put aside what divides us and focus on what unites us. We must put aside concerns about who gets the credit or whose name appears in the spotlight, and look to seeing the gospel spread to those in our community. As Christians, our primary goal should be saving souls. It is selfish and shortsighted to disregard other initiatives simply because they may not benefit our church or be our idea.

Recently, I had the privilege of meeting with a group of men who shared a vision for bringing our church families together in a spirit of service by starting the New Year with a community-wide event. In this spirit, I extend an invitation to the entire Vicksburg community.

Pastor Robert Andrews of Elevate Church has received approval from the City of Vicksburg’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen to organize and host a City-Wide Prayer and New Year’s United Day at Washington Street Park on January 1, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. This event is free and open to all, as we come together to begin the New Year united in faith. It is important to note that this event is intended to grow and UNITE the Body of Christ, not a local church, and will not promote a local church but rather unite us all despite our differences. It will feature a time of worship with a team made up of members of worship teams throughout our community, and will also have times of encouragement brought by fellow pastors around our city.

While Pastor Andrews is spearheading this event, he cannot nor wants to do so without the support of our community. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, “It is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o’clock on Sunday morning.” This segregation extends beyond race to include class and denominational divides. As the grandson of a preacher, I recall him often quoting Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

We would be grateful for every individual who attends this event, but I urge the community to understand that true strength comes when we unite in large numbers. The more we come together, the stronger our collective impact will be.

The City of Vicksburg proudly supports this event and encourages everyone to participate. If you would like to contribute, donate, or offer your support, please contact Pastor Robert Andrews at 601-262-2340 or via email at robert@elevatechurch.ms or Jeremy Martinez at 601-262-2340 or via email at jeremy@elevatechurch.ms by Friday, December 13th.

Let us UNITE in faith and service as we step into the New Year together.

Thomas “TJ” Mayfield Ward 1 Alderman