‘Sounds of CommUNITY’ concert unifies Baton Rouge churches after mall shooting
Annual interfaith event offers hope and healing in 39th year
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Local churches gathered at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church for the “Sounds of Community” concert on April 26—four days after gunfire erupted in the Mall of Louisiana food court on April 23.
Dozens of people from different congregations listened as groups performed songs with vocals and live instruments. The Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge hosts the annual concert to promote unity, justice, and peace.
“We sing, we shout, we praise the Lord together. It’s so important for a community that needs healing,” said Joshua Poole, immediate past board president of the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge.
The concert has been a space for the community to come together for nearly 40 years. Reverend Charles T Smith of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church started the event in 1991.
“Music brings us together,” said Eleanor Perret, a board member of the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge. “We just need to be aware of our common goals and our commonalities rather than our differences.”
Perret said the event lets us all know that we are all together in this community, days after a shooting claimed the life of a high school senior and injured 5 other people.
“We will offer prayer for the people who were hurt this year, this week, rather, and the ones who, you know, any threats and all that, we’re gonna offer a prayer for them,” Perret said.
Poole said the concert serves as a catalyst for healing.
“For us, this is a catalyst to be able to bring healing, to be able to bring hope into a community and just come together,” Poole said.
Community leaders are inviting the public to a candlelight prayer vigil following the deadly shooting at the Mall of Louisiana. The vigil is Monday, April 27, at 6 p.m. near the Main Event entrance, hosted by State Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, Mayor-President Sid Edwards, and A Servent’s Heart Foundation CEO Cathy Tolliver, with candles provided.
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