Prayer walk on Old Hickory planned for Saturday

Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store and Jackson First Assembly Pastor Garry Martin are inviting all residents of Jackson and beyond to be a part of the third-annual Clark Shaw Prayer Walk Saturday morning.

Martin and Clark Shaw coordinated the inaugural event in 2018 that saw 550 people representing 28 churches show up to pray over Old Hickory Boulevard between the Highway 45 Bypass and Hollywood Drive and the apartment complexes and neighborhoods near there.

Shaw died in November of 2020 from COVID-19. But his son, Brooks, who’s now the general manager of the restaurant, contacted Martin about carrying on the event last year.

“I believe this is what he would want us to do — pray for our neighbors, bring people together in fellowship and show Christ’s love to one another,” Brooks Shaw said about getting the event going again.

About 250 people showed up to pray over the neighborhoods, pray with some of the people and partner with the Jackson Police Department for a neighborhood cookout later that day.

A similar schedule of events is set for this year’s event.

Participants will meet at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Barton’s Home Outlet, 756 Old Hickory Blvd., for food, fellowship and instructions; carpooling is encouraged to maximize space in the parking lot. Collective prayer will begin at 9 a.m. and then walkers will break into smaller groups to walk and pray over neighborhoods between Hollywood Drive and U.S. 45 Bypass, a trek of nearly two miles roundtrip. At 11 a.m., walkers will reconvene at Hartland’s apartment complex for a community cookout with hamburgers, hotdogs, bounce houses and community resources on site. The cookout is hosted by the Jackson Police Department. 

Martin said he’s very glad to have the involvement of not only the police department but also Jackson Fire Department too. City leaders including Councilman Johnny Dodd were present at last year’s event.

“To have leaders of the city’s government and two branches of our local first responders to be so involved with this event is a big deal for us,” Martin said. “It shows that they care about the people of Jackson and want God to intervene for the good of our city and every one of its residents.

“And that’s what we’re praying for in the neighborhood we’re walking and all of Jackson.”

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news