New Salem Baptist Church leads voter mobilization efforts [Video]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — New Salem Missionary Baptist Church leadership held a prayer circle for roughly 100 people on Wednesday.

As the first day of early voting neared an end, the church contributed to the growing number votes that Shelby County is already seeing.

Black churches nationwide have often been leaders in mobilizing black voters and advancing civil rights in the community. For decades, faith-based organizations and churches have been critical in mobilizing black voters by leading voter registration drives and educational events.

In many cities across the nation, for politicians, the route to winning an election has often been through African-American churches.

“Many times in the African-American community, we’re slow about coming out to the polls, and I thought I would try to encourage the saints …