“When you come here, you are lifted up,” Barbara McGrew said in her welcome comments at the fourth anniversary of the Picayune Police Department’s Friday Morning Prayer Devotion.

The program was started by Chief Jim Luke, who invited his staff members in 2003 to a prayer/devotion time in his office. The program has grown from eight people in his office to about 25 to 30 people in the courtroom every Friday morning.

The Department’s chaplains, Rev. Darrell Worley and Elder David Simmons, as well as several other local ministers attend, and sometimes bring the message. Other city employees attend, some from the public works department and from the fire department, and some who just want to gather and worship with the local law enforcement.

“The devotion gives the department’s employees, other city employees, citizens, chaplains, and area ministers the opportunity to come together in unity and lift up God’s holy name in praise and to thank Him for another blessed week. It is great to know that Jesus is Lord over Picayune,” said Julie Howell while giving the history of the service.

Attendees were treated to the glorious tenor of Rev. Tommy Hart who sang “Walk Around Heaven All Day”. Lynn Langley sang, and so did Gary Hall.

Kris Landrum gave the thought for the day and scripture reading.

The inspirational message was brought by Joe Wesley who reminded those there that God said we’d never go alone. He is still in control, and He is the majority.

“God spoke to Hezekiah, and an angel slew 185,000 of Judah’s enemies,” Wesley said. “We have terrorists, but we also have God Who says, ‘Fear not.’