Service brings churches together

Published 5:35 pm Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Nine pastors from churches across the Blackbelt region compromise the Blackbelt Christian Ministerial Association, which will host an area-wide service Sunday, Sept. 30 at Church Aflame at 6 p.m. Shown are some of the participating pastors including: Pastor Mickey Green of Church Aflame, Pastor Hank Atchinson of Gallion Baptist Church, the Rev. LaCornia Harris of New Aimwell Baptist Church and Pastor Carl Williams of First Baptist Church.

Believers from all different denominations will fill the seats of Church Aflame this Sunday as part of a community-wide service.

The Blackbelt Christian Ministerial Association began after 35 pastors met in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina to brainstorm ways to aid the storm victims.

Since then, the association has remained active hosting community-wide church services seeking to bring together people from all walks of life.

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“We are going to have a good worship service,” Pastor Mickey Green of Church Aflame said.

Currently, there are nine churches that remain active with the association. The pastors represent diversity, which is one of the missions of the organization.

“We want to get all pastors together,” Pastor Hank Atchinson of Gallion Baptist Church said. “Pastors that wish to join us are welcomed.”

The community service, which draws anywhere from 300-400 people, has been done several times in the past welcoming members from churches across the Blackbelt. Typically, the church service is held on fifth Sundays.

Green said in addition to working together on the service, the association serves as a network for pastors in the region.

“We work together and pray together,” he said. “We all have a great relationship.”

Green said the pastors work hard to coordinate the service and the pastors work together to rotate who gets to preach the sermon at the community service.

This service will include a message from Pastor Hank Atchinson of Gallion Baptist Church.

Another unique aspect of the service is that it will include a combined choir.

“The music will just make you float in the air, it is so powerful, and I am looking forward to it,” Greene said.

Loretta Moore, wife of Fred Moore pastor of Christian Chapel Baptist Church, will lead the combined choirs on Sunday.

“I think the combined choirs brings a unique aspect to the unity of the service,” Atchinson said. “I love the united combination of the different styles.”

In the future, the association also will hold a Thanksgiving service the weekend prior to the holiday.

“This service is important because we need to come together,” Green said. “Baptist, Methodist, Non-denominational…everyone.”

Pastors included in the association include: the Rev. Fred Moore of Christian Chapel Baptist Church, Pastor Mickey Green of Church Aflame, Pastor Scott Stevens of Fairhaven Baptist Church, Pastor Carl Williams of First Baptist Church, Pastor Hank Atchinson of Gallion Baptist Church, the Rev. James Woods of Hopewell Baptist Church, the Rev. LaCornia Harris of New Aimwell Baptist Church, Pastor Randall Smith of Rangeline Baptist Church and Elder Frank Stiff of Saints Tabernacle COGIC.

The service will begin at 6 p.m. Church Aflame is located off U.S. 80 in Demopolis. The address is 431 Oasis Lane.