ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — The Albany community came together Saturday morning at the Albany Government Center to pray for a pastor who has prayed for the city for years.

Rev. Rance Pettibone, pastor of Second Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church, is recovering after being seriously injured in a crash Tuesday, June 2, on West Oakridge Drive, according to his family. His daughter, Kendra Sanders, said the family believes a medical emergency may have happened before the wreck.

“We can confirm that Rev. Rance Pettibone was involved in the accident and believes he had a medical emergency prior to,” Sanders said in a statement. “He is currently receiving medical care at the hospital, and our family is taking things one day at a time.”

For the past 16 years, Pettibone has led the First Saturday Prayer Gathering at the Albany Government Center, bringing together citizens, faith leaders and community members to pray for Albany, its schools, elected leaders, first responders and the well-being of Southwest Georgia.

Saturday’s gathering flipped that tradition — with community members praying for Pettibone’s healing and recovery at the same site where he has regularly led prayer.

The family said they are grateful for the support they have received and asked the public to continue praying for Pettibone, as well as First Lady Sandra Pettibone, their family and the Second Bethesda church family.

“We have prayed together for Albany for 16 years. Now, we ask Albany to pray for him,” Sanders said.

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