More than three dozen members of the community came together Friday night in an effort to stop gang violence.

Members of the Lakeland Police Department, several ministers, and other community members held a prayer vigil in a vacant parking lot off West Memorial Blvd. in the hopes of putting a dent in the gang violence affecting the city.

Pastor Edgar Pickett has had to give eulogies for five teens who he says were victims of gang violence, including his young cousin.

“Death affects us all, but especially to see the young men whose lives were snuffed out so early,” Pickett said.

Lakeland City Commissioner Phillip Walker said he’s seen an increase in violence during the last year and hopes the gang task force will reverse the trend.

“To keep our fingers on the pulse, to make sure we can get this particular, I think, ill, in our city under control,” Walker said.

Lakeland police reported 22 gang-related shootings last year. Most of them, police said, were drive-by shooting injuring teenagers in areas they call “hotspots.”

In an effort to combat the problem, police ramped up their efforts with Operation Safe Street trying to make sure gang members know the consequences of their actions.

“More education so they’ll know what they’re looking at,” said Walker.  “What kind of life you looking for and you don’t want that for your life.”

Some at the prayer vigil say the way to end the problem is simple and the answer is a power from up above.

“I’m hoping and praying that God will be put back and installed in these organizations and institutions that way these problems won’t happen again hopefully,” said Dr. Shandale Terrell of the Gang Task Force.

With hope and prayer and song, the group will do whatever they can to prevent the cycle of violence from continuing.

“You never want to eulogize anybody but when you see somebody so young and this is just gone over nothing,” Pastor Pickett said.

Lakeland Police said there are 46 different gangs in the city and some of the gang members are as young as 12 years old.

Commissioner Walker said some gang members are even younger, as young as 8 years old.

Meantime, teams of people will be going door-to-door throughout parts of the city on Saturday handing out food baskets, cleaning up yards, and signing up to be mentors.

The events begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Seventh St. Park.