Ministerial Association plans Sept. 11 event

The prayer service will be held at 6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Madison County Middle School gym. Members from at least a dozen local churches are expected to participate. And all citizens are invited to attend.

Pastor Robbie Brown of Trinity Baptist Church said the ministerial association pastors prayed about having a joint worship service with local churches to remember the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on America.

Brown said the theme of the event, “An Evening of Hope,” comes from Hebrews 6:19, which reads: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.”

Brown said a message of hope is needed in a time of economic despair.

“With everything we’ve seen going on, with the economy and the loss of jobs, we’ve seen this feeling of hopelessness with so many,” said Brown. “And we just want to bring people together and worship and pray and realize that hope is not in politics, not in government, not in Washington. Hope comes through Christ.”

The Sept. 11 event will also include a prayer time to honor veterans, law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS workers and first responders.

“Ever since 9/11 the nation has had a greater appreciation for those who serve,” said Brown.

The event will also include an inspirational speech from Jerry Ediger, a teacher at Westminster Christian Academy and Sunday School teacher at Comer Baptist Church, who suffered a broken neck years ago while playing high school football.

There will be congregational singing and music from a choir composed of members from various area churches.

“This will be a time of remembering,” said Pastor Glenn Guest of Shiloh Baptist Church.

Guest encouraged all local veterans, law enforcement and emergency workers and their families to attend the event.

“We want to show them our appreciation,” he said.