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Local Pastors Join Fight Against Crime

Posted: 8:39 PM Dec 6, 2012
Reporter: Chip Scarborough

Local Pastors Join Fight Against Crime

Local pastors are joining city leaders in their fight against the spike in crime in Meridian.

Newscenter 11 was there as local pastors made their way into a closed door meeting at Meridian Mayor Cheri Barry's office on Thursday afternoon. Barry says this is not the first meeting like this and it will not be the last either.

"We've got a lot of strong leadership in our community and we're leaning on them hard to help us build Meridian and to continue to grow," Barry says.

A number of pastors were on hand Thursday afternoon and those pastors say they will be reaching out to other pastors in days and weeks to come, as they say everyone in the Queen City must be on the same page in order to move forward.

"When one hurts in this city, we all hurt," Pastor Odell Hopkins from West Mount Moriah Baptist Church says. "When something goes wrong, it goes wrong with all of us. And so the pastors of Meridian are out to lend whatever support they can."

"We've got some real crime issues in Meridian and we're dealing with them," Barry says. "We have a very strong police department that is behind us, but it's going to take more than the police. We need this community to come together and open your hearts and minds to the youth of our community."

The city says it is also important for residents to keep their homes and cars locked at all times. If you have any information that can help authorities in their fight against crime, you can call Crimestoppers at 601-485-1860.