Kentucky governor Matt Bevin on Monday posted pictures on Facebook of a prayer walk he and others conducted in Louisville, reported WDRB. The prayer walk took place on Friday, August 18.

“Respectful interaction between people is a powerful antidote to much of what ails our society,” Gov. Bevin wrote. “I am encouraged every time I join a group who is engaging in our communities. I am grateful for and inspired by the many groups who are walking the neighborhoods of Louisville each week and praying for this city. Block by block, we can reclaim our cities and our state.”

In a press conference on June 1, Governor Bevin asked people to pray. “The Lieutenant governor and myself laid forth a simple request of people and I’ll share with you what that is. It is harnessing people of faith to pray for the community, engage with the community by physically walking blocks in that community, praying for the community for people in those communities, and engaging with them. … We need young people and old people alike who genuinely believe in the power of prayer… .”

“That’s it,” he said. “Pretty unsophisticated. Pretty uncomplicated. Pretty basic. But I truly believe we’re going to see a difference in our city. I personally believe in the power of prayer. I’ve seen it.”

USA Today reported that as of June, the Louisville Metro Police had opened 52 criminal homicide investigations, putting the city on pace to surpass the 118 homicide investigations in 2016, the most in the history of the department.