Both sides of the BCHS gym were nearly full for Sunday's prayer walk.
After an extened summer break due to budget cuts, Bleckley County schools will begin their 2010-11 terms Thursday. Sunday night, hundreds of residents gathered to pray for the coming school year.
Lyrics are shown on the wall as the House of Grace youth band performs.
The annual prayer walk once again began in the BCHS gym. Praise and Worship music was provided by the House of Grace youth band. Prayers were offered for the school year including one for the students by HOG worship leader Jimmy Farrell.
Some in attendance were very moved by the music.
Mayor (and BCHS faculty member) Cliff Avant spoke about how lucky everyone was to live in a town where gatherings like this were allowed. He quoted the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights noting that while it said Congress shall not establish any religion, it also said they shall not prevent the free exercise thereof.
Cochran mayor (and BCHS faculty member) said he was grateful they could have faith-based gatherings like the prayer walk.
That's how he described the gathering, as people exercising their freedom. Avant said he was thankful have that freedom. He prayed for the administrators and school faculty.
People pray while others walk the halls at BCHS.
Before dismissing the gathering, Pastor Joey Williams said that while he was glad for everyone to visit with their neighbors during their walking the halls, that the goal was to pray. He got everyone to say "pray."
BCHS assistant principal Trey Belflower and members of the Belflower and Brown families pray in front of Shana Brown's classroom at Bleckley Primary School. Both Brown and Belflower's wife Lori are teachers at BCPS.
People then spanned out to the campuses to pray. Matthew 18:20 says "Where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them." Those of Christian faith no doubt believed that Sunday evening.
