SALISBURY — Shield a Badge with Prayer Ministries is a program that initiates prayer for all those who wear the badge. 

Given the events that unfolded in Charlotte on Monday that claimed the lives of four on-duty officers, Rowan County Sheriff’s Chaplain Mike Taylor believes now is more important than ever to cloak law enforcement through the power of prayer. 

“The reason I am doing this is exactly what happened (Monday),” Taylor said earlier this week. 

When Taylor heard the news, he was struck by a profound sense of sorrow. 

“Once I heard about it, I cried until I went to bed,” Taylor said. “It’s so sad that our men and women face what they face. People don’t understand what they face. I believe that through his program that if we would pray for our officers and let them know that we appreciate them, it would make a difference. 

“I believe in the power of prayer. I believe that if we would pray like we should, there would be a lot less of this through the country if we do our part.”

The program actually began nearly three decades ago when Taylor took a concept from a Texas family and transplanted it to local law enforcement in Rowan County. 

Every year, Taylor asks those interested in signing up to pray for an officer. Those requests are generally taken around this month to coincide with Officer Memorial Day, which is on May 14. 

“This is the time of year when we renew our program,” Taylor told a Post reporter years ago. “We are going to ask people to keep the same officer, pray for a new officer or sign up for the first time.” 

Included inside this edition of the Salisbury Post is a Shield a Badge cutout with space for your name, address and phone number. If you would like to join this movement, complete the cutout and mail it to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office at 232 North Main Street, Salisbury, NC 28144. 

During the three decades that Taylor has spearheaded the project in Rowan County, he believes he has seen a difference. 

“In the 29 years we have done that, we have saved lives,” Taylor said. “It makes a difference. Everybody can pray. There is no limit on prayer.”

When one signs up, they will be provided with the name of the officer, their date of birth and their agency. Once assigned a law enforcement officer, the prayer partners are encouraged to pray for them every day, but also send a birthday card and Christmas card to reaffirm their appreciation for all that law enforcement goes through on a daily basis. 

It’s not just Rowan County Sheriff’s Office deputies who can be prayed for. Taylor said they would assign other law enforcement officers from various municipal agencies from around the county, too. 

“Scripture tells us that without prayer made on their behalf, the officer is unprotected and is a target for the Devil,” Taylor said. “Whenever an officer and their family are prayed for, it is as if God places His divine shield of protection around them.”