Freedom march: If My people pray...

Saturday, Dec. 11, was a cooler, damp morning, the kind of conditions when most would prefer staying inside and enjoying a warm drink. However, it was time for prayful action for others. More than 40 individuals took part in a march and prayer service around the Perryville Square.
“God put it on our heart to pray for our country, our local, state, federal government, our hospitals and schools, but first of all, we needed to repent and ask God back into our country so he will hear from heaven and heal our land,” said Lisa Pingel, the event organizer. “We decided to meet, circle around the courthouse. We have to ask God to heal our country.”
Those in attending were not supporting a specific issue, but rather praying for the country’s leaders and seeking unity.
“The courthouse represents the government of our country, and we were praying for them, just to bring down the spiritual walls of America, and asking God to be our protector, our healer, to be our God.”
Pingel considered Saturday’s march a success.
“I’m very optimistic,” she said. “The people that were praying were very real. They were there because they believed what they were praying and who they were praying to.”
Pingel is hopeful about positive change in the future.

“How we’re going to see this, I don’t know, but I do know God hears our prayers. He wouldn’t have us praying if there wasn’t hope.”
The participants marched around seven times, inspired by Joshua in the Bible, according to Kevin Barron, pastor of United Methodist Church in Perryville as well as Crossroads United Methodist Church.
Saturday was the first time for this type of event. Pingel admitted “it probably will not be the last.”
While there are other prayer events throughout the year, including National Day of Prayer (Thursday, May 5) and “See You At the Pole,” a global student prayer initiative (September 2022), Pingel said, at certain times, prayer should be more than just a planned, once a year routine.
“Sometimes you have to go to the ER because of acute issues, things that come up, and our country is in such a critical ER state that it needs a physician now. God is that ultimate physician and he is more than capable to help our country.”
The event concluded with those in attendance reciting the Lord’s Prayer.
The participants marched around seven times, inspired by Joshua in the Bible, according to Kevin Barron, pastor of United Methodist Church in Perryville as well as Crossroads United Methodist Church.