Magnolia-area pastors gathered Friday, June 5, to lead the community in a prayer service held in front of Magnolia High School. Church leaders prayed for healing, unity and peace to take place across the community and nation.

Several dozen members of the community attended the prayer rally and gathered on the lawn while other residents stayed in their vehicles and were able to listen to in via an FM transmitter.

Churches represented included Magnolia's First Baptist Church, Magnolia Bible Church, Collective Church, Magnolia Cowboy Church and Believers Fellowship, among others.

"We've just been like everybody else watching what's been going on all over the nation with the tragic death of George Floyd [in Minnesota] and watching the marches all over the country," Ed Seay, senior pastor of Magnolia's First Baptist Church and one of the organizers of the June 5 rally, said in a June 3 phone interview. "Our hearts are heavy for the African American community, for the safety of our police officers and just for the deep division there is in our nation. As pastors we feel like the greatest response is prayer. We just thought we would have this opportunity for the pastors of the community and the people of our community to come together."