Drive-by prayers in Camden

Drive-by shootings in Camden are not new. But drive-by prayers? Probably.

Rev. John O. Parker, of Antioch Baptist Church in Camden, is organizing a "Drive-by Prayer" event in which a motorcade will drive the perimeter of the city and through each block on New Year's Day to declare: "Peace in the street! Safety over our families! Life over death!"

Parker invites anyone who wants to join him in taking a stance against the "senseless violence," he says.

The event will start at 10 a.m. at Antioch Baptist Church, 690 Ferry Ave. From there a caravan will go throughout the city to pray. The tour is expected to take just under three hours.

Camden has had 49 homicides so far this year, compared to 38 at this time last year. Other crimes such as burglaries have also increased.