Operation Jericho Ride, prayer around the perimeter

A ministry group is appealing to people of all faith communities to pray for one hour as they drive around the perimeter over the next two days.

"We put together this Operation Jericho Ride that was really a spin-off from a friend who did a similar event in April," says Richard. 

Mary Richard and her husband Louis are a part of Holy Family Ministries, which is a group of families that have supported each other for almost 30 years. The Richards are head of the evangelization and prayer part of the ministry. 

Richard's friend had simply asked a few friends to drive around the perimeter and pray over the city back in April this year, shortly after COVID-19 shut many things down. 

This time Richard says, "we thought we'd extend it to all of Winnipeg and Manitoba."

As Winnipeg and many surrounding communities are now under level orange restrictions, Richard and her husband have seen people's emotions on high.

"There seems to be so much tension and fear," says Richard.

The event is open to anyone who wants to pray.

"We thought we would take two days, the Saturday or Sunday during daylight hours where everyone could choose one hour to drive around and pray in whatever way they're inspired."

People can register for the event but don't have to. Richard says you could do it from your own home if you can't drive around Winnipeg's perimeter. 

"There's a church out in Western Manitoba, their whole community including their priest who will be leading a procession around their community for an hour this weekend."

The reason for the name of this event is the idea of the Israelites marching around Jericho from the book of Joshua in the Bible. 

"We thought that's really the inspiration for us to see that something simple God can use. Whatever God wants to pour down on us, we want to call that down on us."

Richard says she hopes this will be one of many events like this.