Pastor Chris Harris will announce the 2026–2027 “One Hour of Power” campaign at a September 5th press conference at Bright Star Church Chicago, followed by prayer around Carter G. Woodson Elementary; the full anniversary relaunch begins Sept. 5.
On Saturday, Sept. 5th at 8:30 A.M., Pastor Chris Harris, founder of Prayer Around The Schools (PATS), will convene faith leaders, educators, parents, neighbors and community partners at Bright Star Church Chicago to announce the program’s 20th Anniversary and citywide relaunch. The campaign’s goal is clear and ambitious: identify 1,000 houses of worship to adopt 1,000 schools close to their locations and provide consistent prayer and community covering throughout the 2026–2027 school year. Learn more at PATSprogram.com
The press conference will be held from 8:30–9:00 a.m. at Bright Star Church Chicago, 735 E. 44th St., Chicago. From 9:00a.m. – 10:00 a.m., participants will proceed to Carter G. Woodson Elementary School, 4414 S. Evans Ave., to pray around the school and surrounding block. Participants are encouraged to wear RED, the unifying color worn by PATS participants on the first Saturday of every month.
“They took prayer out of the school, but nothing prohibits us from praying around the schools every first Saturday of the month for one hour of power,” says founder, Pastor Chris Harris.
The campaign is grounded in Jesus’ question to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane: “What, could ye not watch with me one hour?” (Matthew 26:40, KJV). PATS is calling Chicago to answer that question with “One Hour of Power — 60 Minutes of Supplication” on the first Saturday of every month, from 9:00–10:00 a.m. Houses of worship will be matched with a nearby school so that prayer is local, visible, peaceful, consistent, and rooted in relationship.
A Christian-Led, Ecumenical and Citywide Invitation
PATS is led by Christians and welcomes the partnership and participation of all faith traditions and houses of worship. The effort also invites parents, educators, school leaders, elected officials, law enforcement, block clubs, youth organizations, and neighbors who share a commitment to children, schools, and safer, stronger communities. Activities are voluntary, community-led and conducted around school grounds without disrupting instruction or school operations. Learn more at PATSprogram.com
Each participating house of worship will be asked to:
· Adopt a school close to its worship location for the 2026–2027 school year.
· Return on the first Saturday of each month from 9:00–10:00 a.m. for prayer and visible community presence.
· Mobilize clergy, congregants, parents, students, alumni, neighbors, and community partners — wearing RED.
· Walk, run, jog, drive, or ride around the school while praying, adapting participation for age, ability, and weather.
· Build respectful relationships with school leaders and help connect prayer with practical partnership and progress.
Why This Moment Matters
The call comes as young people continue to carry serious burdens. Nationally, Education Week had identified 15 K–12 school shootings resulting in injuries or deaths in 2026 as of June 22, with 22 people killed or injured. In Chicago, A Better Chicago’s 2025 State of Our Youth report found that 94% of surveyed young people viewed mental health as a problem for their peers; 63% had witnessed community violence, 22% said they witnessed it weekly, and almost 41% of CPS students were chronically absent in 2024. Lurie Children’s also reported that 79% of Chicago adults viewed neighborhood gun violence as a major concern for child and adolescent health. These figures are not offered to stigmatize any school or neighborhood, but to underscore the urgent need for care, presence, partnership, prevention and hope.
| 15 | 94% | 63% |
| National K–12 school shootings with injuries or deaths in 2026 as of June 22 | Surveyed Chicago youth who said mental health is a problem for people their age | Surveyed Chicago youth who had witnessed community violence |
What PATS Will Pray For
Prayer priorities include:
· Protection from gun violence, gang recruitment, abuse, exploitation, drugs, and other dangers in and around schools.
· Mental-health healing, trauma support, hope, belonging and healthy relationships for students and families.
· Renewed strength, wisdom, protection and appreciation for teachers, principals, counselors, support staff, and school employees.
· Stronger parent engagement, attendance, accountability, literacy, mathematics, test performance, graduation, and postsecondary pathways.
· Equitable educational resources, safe learning environments and wise stewardship by public officials and school leaders.
· Peace in homes, on blocks and in neighborhoods, along with deeper partnership among preachers, principals, parents, and community partners.
A Model Chicago Can Share With the Nation
The full 20th Anniversary Relaunch will take place Saturday, September 5th, 2026, from 9:00–10:00 a.m. at schools across Chicago. Pastor Chris Harris is also inviting faith leaders in other cities to replicate the PATS model, matching houses of worship to nearby schools, gathering monthly and combining prayer with sustained community partnership. Learn more at PATSprogram.com
Media Event Details
| WHAT | PATS 20th Anniversary Press Conference and Relaunch Announcement |
| WHO | Pastor Chris Harris; Chicago faith leaders; parents; educators; elected officials; community partners and residents |
| WHEN | Saturday, September 5th, 2026 •Press conference 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. •Prayer walk 9:00 a. m. – 10:00 a.m. |
| PRESS LOCATION | Bright Star Church Chicago • 735 E. 44th St. •Chicago, IL 60653 |
| PRAYER LOCATION | Carter G. Woodson Elementary School •4414 S. Evans Ave. • Chicago, IL 60653 |
| VISUALS | Clergy and community members in RED; founder remarks; interfaith/community participation; prayer walk around school; PATS signs and 1,000/1,000 campaign message |
| MEDIA CONTACT | Diseree Clay • Diseree@BrightStarCOGIC.com(773) 980-0939 Learn more at PATSprogram.com |
About Prayer Around The Schools
Prayer Around The Schools (PATS) is a collaborative faith-and-community initiative founded by Pastor Chris Harris to help “charge and change” the atmosphere around schools toward progress, safety and success. PATS brings together houses of worship, schools, parents, elected officials, law enforcement and community members for monthly prayer and sustained partnership. Its mission is to encourage educational pursuit, community activism, safety and the unlimited potential of young people; its vision is to bridge churches, schools and communities in ways that support every child. Learn more at PATSprogram.com
“Doing What I Can; While I Can; With What I Have; Within HIS Will.”
Pastor Chris Harris, Sr. (PCH)
BrightStarChurchChicago.com (Greater Bronzeville) – Pastor
StJamesMinistriesChicago.com (West Pullman/Roseland) – Pastor
BrightStarCommunityOutreach.com – CEO
BrightStarCDC.com – CEO
TheUnityForum.com – Co-Founder
GreaterBronzevilleCAC (GBCAC) – Chairman
(773)373-5220 – Church
