Pastor Jamal Bryant announces national prayer rally for Nolan Wells

BILOXI, Miss. — National faith leader Dr. Jamal Bryant is calling supporters nationwide to Biloxi on Aug. 19 for a National Prayer Rally marking what would have been Nolan Wells’ 19th birthday.

National Day of Prayer for Nolan Wells

Bryant announced the gathering on Instagram. He urged people to meet at Greater St. John AME Church at 7 p.m., framing the event as both a spiritual action and a show of solidarity with the Wells family.

Bryant said the date carries painful significance for the family and the growing number of supporters who have rallied behind them since early July.

“Nolan Wells should be turning 19 on .the 19th but he’s NOT!” Bryant wrote. “All roads lead to Mississippi in two weeks. Prayer is a weapon that never runs out of ammunition.” He ended the message with a declaration that has echoed for weeks: “This is not over!!”

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Case Continues to Draw National Attention

Wells, an 18‑year‑old Ocean Springs High School graduate and wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College, died after a July 4 boat outing near Horn Island. His body was found on July 6 following a multi‑agency search. His death remains under investigation, and autopsy and toxicology results have not been released.

Since early July, the Wells family has pressed for transparency. They retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump, commissioned an independent autopsy, and raised concerns about inconsistencies in accounts from the friends who accompanied Wells to the island. Crump has said the family is not satisfied with early suggestions of accidental drowning and wants a full review of the circumstances.

National Figures Join the Push for Answers in Nolan Wells Death

Bryant’s involvement adds to a growing list of national voices supporting the family. Public figures including Tyler Perry, Colin Kaepernick, Rev. Al Sharpton, and WNBA guard Natasha Cloud have stepped forward, helping elevate the case beyond Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.

At a recent service, Bryant said the case demands national attention. He told his congregation that the investigation raises serious questions and urged them to stand with the family.

“This is not a Mississippi issue. It is a Black America issue,” he said.

Organizers expect a significant turnout on Aug. 19, with supporters traveling from across the country. Greater St. John AME Church, one of Biloxi’s oldest Black congregations, will host the event. Church leaders say the rally will center on prayer, reflection and continued calls for transparency.

For Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, who has faced grief and public scrutiny, the rally represents another show of support from people determined to keep her son’s name from fading.