Houston Area Sherriff's Office Holds Prayer Vigil for Deputy in Hospital with COVID-19

Lt. Shannon Bowdoin, the Sherriff’s Office Chaplain, prayed, “Father, we come to You now, and I come to you in the name of Jesus, and I ask you, Father, to touch this family. I especially ask you right now Lord, to reach down into that hospital room where Ray is…and by Your sovereign strength, power, and authority, will You touch every cell of his body?”

Bowdoin noted in his prayer that the time of Passover had begun and prayed, “Father, bless each of us with Your presence. Let each of us know that You have never left us nor forsaken us and on this Passover day that we would see death pass us over.”

Dozens from the Sherriff’s Department stood outside the patrol vehicles with their hands lifted during the prayer. Members of Sgt. Scholwinski’s family joined them, with everyone wearing masks and standing “an appropriate distance from each other.”

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told reporters that the Department is “continuing to work closely with the family just to make sure he has the best care possible and that we’re helping them to explore every medical option there is.”

He also explained that, “Under these circumstances, we have to maintain our distance. But we didn’t want to miss this moment to honor Ray and his District 2 family. And let them know that we support them.”

Gonzalez expressed the desire of every Deputy present when he said that, “We want him to get back with us where he belongs.”

Sgt. Scholwinski’s son Bryan read a statement from the family, thanking everyone for what they had done and asked them to “Keep my Dad, our family, and healthcare workers in your thoughts and prayers.”

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/ALFSnaiper

Scott Slayton writes at “One Degree to Another.”