NATCHEZ — The past couple of years have been tough in Natchez and the Miss-Lou with a spate of violent crimes, including 14 murders in Adams County last year.

Women of Worship of the Miss-Lou decided to hold a night of prayer and worship titled “Lord, Have Mercy! A Night of Prayer and Praise!” at 6 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Natchez City Auditorium, 207 Jefferson St., Natchez, to help with the healing process in the community.

“We wanted to have an evening of prayer and praise in light of events of violence in the community the last couple of years,” said Carolyn Ridley, president of Women of Worship. “We encourage the community and families who have been affected to join us for the night of prayer and praise and ballet.”

Ridley also is a co-founder of the Ballet Magnificat-Natchez project. Ballet Magnificat! is a Christian ballet company.

“In 2009, we brought Ballet Magnificat! to Natchez for the first time as a fundraiser for the Guardian Shelter, a women’s shelter,” Ridley said. “We are in our ninth or 10th year to bring them to Natchez.”

This year, Ridley said, Women of Worship decided to combine the fundraiser with a night of prayer and praise for the community.

The funds raised will benefit the Guardian Shelter and Almost Home, a rehabilitation center in Jonesville, Louisiana.

“We just thought it would be a great time to combine those efforts,” Ridley said.

The event will offer song, scripture reading and an opportunity for people to see the Ballet Magnificat! perform.

Women of Worship of the Miss-Lou is on-profit, non-denominational group to bring women together across denominational lines and race to unify the community in the body of Christ and the word of God, Ridley said.

“The committee is made up of diverse women, who have a heart and passion for the word of God and unity in the community,” Ridley said. “All of the things we do in the community are to share the word of Christ.”

Tickets are $20 per person and are available at the door and are available in advance from AnRuss, Guardian Thrift Store, RRuss in Vidalia or First Baptist Church of Vidalia, Ridley said.

Tickets for groups of 10 or more must be purchased in advance and are discounted to $15 per person.

“We are encouraging churches, youth groups and women to attend,” Ridley said. “It is for everybody, especially families affected by tragedies in the community.”