Shack Church Prays For A Safer City

Live music, prayer, and reminders from two alders that change is possible uplifted dozens of West Hills neighbors during a gathering of ​“Church at the Shack.”

That was the scene Sunday afternoon at the 333 Valley St. community center known as ​“The Shack,” where city leaders and community members gathered to pray for local youth. 

The event came together at the request of several young regulars at the Shack who expressed a desire for prayer over the city, themselves, and their peers. 

For just over an hour, 50 people gathered into the Shack’s entertainment room for a brief service led by Westville/Amity Alder and Board of Alders Majority Leader Richard Furlow, who is also president of Reach The Nations Kingdom College. The event was organized by West Hills/West Rock Alder Honda Smith in partnership with Furlow.

Before, during, and after Sunday’s gathering, community members sang, danced, and prayed together, with the help of a drummer and piano player providing live musical accompaniment.

Smith said two weeks ago youth who visit the Shack daily told her about their concerns with violence and crime in New Haven. ​“They know things are serious and they’re suffering from it,” Smith said. 

Smith said the students also shared about their daily struggles with mental health, school, peer pressure, and the lack of safe outdoor spaces for them. Smith prayed over the children, and they requested that the same opportunity be offered for their peers.

“This has nothing to do with denomination. These kids are crying out world wide and they can’t seem to find the help,” Smith said on Sunday. 

Furlow and Smith recalled prayer working for them in their youth. They said they both regularly attended church while growing up. ​“That is where I found my purpose,” Furlow said. 

Smith added that the Shack already provides youth and seniors with food, mental health, and workforce supports. Now, with the Sunday event, it’s offered spiritual support, too. 

“We want to give them all the tools to show these young people that they can make it,” Smith said.

Furlow shared with the group that ​“through the hard times, there’s hope.” He said change is coming to West Hills, Westville, and New Haven. He joined Pastor Rosa Davis of the Body of Christ Assembly to pray over the community members who volunteered to come up to the ​“altar.”

Those who showed up to Sunday’s event included church members from Bethel AME Church, First Church of God, Christian Love Center, and Thomas Chapel Church of Christ. 

“They are crying out seeking divine guidance, protection, and healing. Not just for themselves but of their entire generation. This cry is more than a plea. It’s a powerful declaration that they refuse to be silent, lost, or forgotten,” Smith said. ​“Today we’re gathered to stand alongside them to lift our voices in prayer.” 

Click here to view a video recording of the full event. 

West Hills mother Eugena Morris attended Sunday’s event because ​“things have gotten out of hand,” she said. Morris brought her two sons, her neighbor’s child, and her two nieces to Sunday’s event. ​“It’s very important for the children to know about God and just feel the presence of love,” she said. 

She concluded that there’s not enough support for the youth in New Haven and the city’s adults don’t listen to the kids’ needs directly often enough. ​“A lot of kids are acting out because they’re hurting and can’t process the things they’re going through,” she said. ​“They need guidance. They need safe places and a hug a lot of times and for us to just listen.”

Hillhouse senior David Coardes said he enjoyed Sunday’s gathering and it reaffirmed his recent decision to return back to church after previously struggling to find his place. ​“I’m leaving here with fellowship. I’m leaving here with thankfulness that I was able to praise and come here,” Coardes said. 

According to the city’s latest CompStat crime data report, there have been nine homicides so far this year, compared to 17 at this time last year; 74 non-fatal shootings, compared to 61 at this time last year; 759 car thefts, compared to 940 at this time last year; and 148 confirmed gunshots fired, compared to 214 at this time last year.