Tulsa pastor responds to Juneteenth Festival shooting with prayer, action, and hope

TULSA, Okla. –

In the aftermath of the tragic Juneteenth Festival shooting in Tulsa, one local pastor is turning heartbreak into hope. At Friendship Church, the focus has shifted from grief to guidance, as the community searches for ways to move forward.

Pastor Jamaal Dyer: “This Is a Safe Place”

Pastor Jamaal Dyer, born and raised in North Tulsa, has led Friendship Church for six years. On Sunday, he called young people to the altar for prayer and affirmation—offering them more than just words.

🗣️ “We called them to the altar… letting them know that this is a safe place, that they are valuable, that they are worthy, that they are loved and they are needed,” Dyer said.

Community Response: 30 to 90 Days of Action

Friendship Church also hosted a community meeting on Sunday, where churches and local organizations announced plans to:

Open gym spaces for teens
Launch mentorship programs
Develop family and youth-oriented events
Provide consistent engagement opportunities

🗣️ “There are eager, passionate people… that will help to begin to change the trajectory for our youth.”

– Pastor Dyer

“It Takes a Village”: Mayor Nichols Speaks Out

Mayor Monroe Nichols addressed the community on Monday, calling for unity and long-term commitment to youth-focused solutions.

🗣️ “It takes a village to care for and raise a child,” Nichols said.

He encouraged residents to connect with the city’s new Office of Children, Youth, and Families, part of a broader violence intervention strategy.

Curfew Support — and a Challenge to Parents

Pastor Dyer supports the mayor’s proposed curfew for those 17 and under, but says real change begins at home.

🗣️ “Be intentional about being in your child’s business. Know where they are, know who they’re with,” Dyer said.

Investing in the Next Generation

More than programs and policy, Dyer says what youth need most is time, presence, and a listening ear.

🗣️ “See how you can be a listening ear… to implement some of the things that the young people are asking for,” Dyer said in part.

He also shared plans to start a mentorship initiative with the men in his church, bringing guidance and accountability directly into the lives of young people, specifically the young men.