The Shield A Badge with Prayer program, in which citizens support law enforcement officers by praying for them, begins Friday.
The program asks people, churches or classes to commit to praying for an officer every day for one year.
Prayer partners also send birthday and Christmas cards, encouragement and thank-you letters to the officers in care of the office or agency where they work.
The program begins each May 1. However, a person can start anytime during the year. If a current prayer partner wants to continue praying for the same officer he or she may do so, a press release said.
Prayer partners are asked to do something for the officer during special events such as law enforcement week, usually the second week in May.
“The program is a way to assure officers that what they do is important and appreciated,” said Chaplain Michael Taylor, with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.
Taylor began the program in Rowan County in 1995. He also serves as pastor of Phaniels Baptist Church in Rockwell.
Each prayer partner will receive the name and birth date of an officer. Contact with an officer is only through mail addressed to the office or agency the officer works for.
“The law enforcement officer is faced with danger, split-second decisions, frustrations, criticism for doing their job and other anxieties,” Taylor said.
Among the leading causes of death for law enforcement officers are heart attack, alcohol and drug abuse and suicide.
“The recent crisis across the state and nation shows us how great of a need there is for the program,” Taylor said.
The Shield A Badge with Prayer program raises funds and takes donations to provide officers with Shield A Badge prayer bibles, promise books, lapel pins, notebooks and other materials. It is a nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible. Checks should be made to Shield A Badge With Prayer Ministries.
Anyone interested in participating in the program is asked to contact Taylor at 704-782-7201 or submit their name, address and phone number by mail to Taylor at 2675 Phaniels Church Road, Rockwell, NC 28138.