“We have been involved in the past when these things have happened in Memphis, and the things that we were trying to advocate for, in this situation we do feel as if those things that we have advocated for in the past, that they actually did a great job addressing those issues,” Orr told Baptist Press. “To me it’s a matter of just trust.
“The community needs to trust the law enforcement that we have given and granted the authority to help maintain the order and peace in our community,” Orr said. “And for that trust to take place, we do need transparency, we do need to rely on technology especially in terms of bodycam, and timing is so important as well, because in the past, oftentimes, things have been delayed.”
Orr describes the Nichols tragedy as a “crime issue,” not a “color issue.”
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“I believe that as the community, we need to look at the root causes of all of this. I spoke with the chief years ago in Southaven about what could really change the crime situation that we find ourselves in. And he said Brother Orr, the bottom line is we need people with changed hearts, and the only answer to a changed heart is Jesus Christ.”
The evil of police brutality should spur Christians in evangelism, Orr said.
“For believers, the reason our work is so important, as we evangelize, as we share the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, ultimately only a changed heart is going to stop the senseless killing, the crime imbalance that’s consuming our society.”
A funeral service for Nichols will be held Feb. 1 at 10:30 a.m. at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. Al Sharpton will deliver the eulogy.
This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.
