Pastor blasts Kentucky governor's proposal to combat violence with prayer

A pastor has criticized Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin for his proposal to combat violence in Louisville by creating walking prayer groups in the city's most crime-ridden neighborhoods.

Bevin had recently promised a solution to gun violence after Dequante Hobbs, a 7-year-old boy from Louisville, was killed when he was hit by a stray bullet while eating a snack in his kitchen.

During a meeting with Louisville residents and faith leaders on Thursday, the governor called on groups of volunteers to adopt streets in the city's high-crime neighborhoods, and spend a few nights a week to walk around the area and pray at each corner.

Pastor Joe Phelps, of Highland Baptist Church, said that he believes in prayer, but he described the proposal as a "political ploy."

"That's not the answer here and for him to reduce the problems of violence to getting people to go pray for a block is an embarrassment to Christianity," Phelps said, according to WHAS 11.

Dr. Frank Smith, Jr., Senior Pastor of Christ Church, said that additional resources need to be invested in the poorest parts of Louisville before the city's crime problem can be solved.

"The resources, the education, and the opportunities that are available in the eastern parts of the community need to be brought to West Louisville," the pastor said.

Clay Calloway, an associate pastor at St. Stephen Baptist Church and founder of the West Louisville Ministers Coalition, said that he wanted a "barf bag" after hearing the governor's plan. He maintained that the churches are already praying, and he said he was hoping for a more practical and political solution.

"He has a responsibility to produce public policy, regulation and provide resources. We don't need a sermon or him quoting Scripture. We know the Bible and we're already praying," he argued.

Some faith leaders commended Bevin, who expressed intentions to join in various prayer walks.

Aaron Harvie, senior pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, said he was encouraged that Bevin was "not ashamed or afraid to call us to prayer." "Governor Bevin did a fantastic job communicating his heart for the health of our communities," he added.

Bevin maintained that his plan to solve the problem of gun violence is multifaceted and that prayer was just one aspect of the solution.

He said that he wanted the prayer walks to be organized "organically," and he noted that the volunteers would not need permission from the government to participate.