Prayer rings in new year BY JOHN R. CRANE [email protected] (434) 791-7987 | Posted: Wednesday, January 1, 2014 7:47 pm More than 150 people gathered on the steps outside Danville City Hall on Patton Street on Wednesday to hold an annual New Year’s Day prayer for Danville. Led by Bishop Lawrence G. Campbell Sr., apostle at Bibleway World Wide Church, and ministers from other churches, they prayed for God’s guidance to a prosperous 2014 for city government, Danville’s youth, families, more jobs, businesses and education. They also prayed for the unity of the city’s diverse churches. At the start of the event on a cold New Year’s Day, the group sang “God Bless Danville” to the tune of “God Bless America.” Alonzo Jones, a member at Bible Way and a city councilman, has attended every annual prayer since Campbell started the event 30 years ago. “It’s non-denominational,” Jones said during an interview before the ceremony began. “It’s thoughtful. Everybody knows the city of Danville is growing. This is very meaningful to our city.” Aspiring minister Darlene Carter, with Bible Way, read scripture from Chronicles, and several ministers took turns praying for different aspects of the city. Rev. Serenus T. Churn Jr., pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, prayed for Danville’s city government; Sierra Branch, Miss Black Teenage Danville/Pittsylvania County, prayed for the city’s youth; Pastor Louise Hayes, from Celestial Deliverance Holiness Church, prayed for the city’s families; Rev. Clarence Hairston, pastor at Bennett Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, prayed for jobs and businesses in the city; Rev. Cecil E. Bridgeforth Sr., pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church, prayed for education; and Pastor Stan Hood, from Three Angels Message Seventh Day Adventist Church, prayed for unity among the city’s churches. During an interview following the event, Campbell said he began the yearly prayer 30 years ago to have an ecumenical gathering held across racial lines. The prayer is an opportunity to ask God to let his favor be granted over the city, Campbell said. Though the prayers have not deterred unfortunate events, that does not mean they fall on deaf ears, he Prayer

Prayer rings in new year - Calvary Baptist Church...Prayer rings in new year BY JOHN R. CRANE [email protected] (434) 791-7987 | Posted: Wednesday, January 1, 2014 7:47 pm More

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Page 1: Prayer rings in new year - Calvary Baptist Church...Prayer rings in new year BY JOHN R. CRANE jcrane@registerbee.com (434) 791-7987 | Posted: Wednesday, January 1, 2014 7:47 pm More

Prayer rings in new yearBY JOHN R. CRANE [email protected] (434) 791-7987 | Posted: Wednesday, January 1,2014 7:47 pm

More than 150 people gathered on the steps outsideDanville City Hall on Patton Street on Wednesday tohold an annual New Year’s Day prayer for Danville.

Led by Bishop Lawrence G. Campbell Sr., apostle atBibleway World Wide Church, and ministers fromother churches, they prayed for God’s guidance to aprosperous 2014 for city government, Danville’syouth, families, more jobs, businesses and education.They also prayed for the unity of the city’s diversechurches.

At the start of the event on a cold New Year’s Day,the group sang “God Bless Danville” to the tune of “God Bless America.”

Alonzo Jones, a member at Bible Way and a city councilman, has attended every annual prayer sinceCampbell started the event 30 years ago.

“It’s non-denominational,” Jones said during an interview before the ceremony began. “It’sthoughtful. Everybody knows the city of Danville is growing. This is very meaningful to our city.”

Aspiring minister Darlene Carter, with Bible Way, read scripture from Chronicles, and severalministers took turns praying for different aspects of the city.

Rev. Serenus T. Churn Jr., pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, prayed for Danville’s city government;Sierra Branch, Miss Black Teenage Danville/Pittsylvania County, prayed for the city’s youth; PastorLouise Hayes, from Celestial Deliverance Holiness Church, prayed for the city’s families; Rev.Clarence Hairston, pastor at Bennett Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, prayed for jobs andbusinesses in the city; Rev. Cecil E. Bridgeforth Sr., pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church, prayed foreducation; and Pastor Stan Hood, from Three Angels Message Seventh Day Adventist Church,prayed for unity among the city’s churches.

During an interview following the event, Campbell said he began the yearly prayer 30 years ago tohave an ecumenical gathering held across racial lines.

The prayer is an opportunity to ask God to let his favor be granted over the city, Campbell said.Though the prayers have not deterred unfortunate events, that does not mean they fall on deaf ears, he

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