Prayer vigil for healing of race relations held in Appomattox

Members of the Appomattox County community came together Thursday evening at Baptist Bible Church in Appomattox to pray for peaceful unity and healing of racial tensions, both nationally and locally, and shed a few tears in the process.

The vigil was spurred by national and local unrest during the past week that took place in response to the death of a black man, George Floyd, who died while a Minneapolis, Minn. police officer, Derek Chauvin, held his knee on Floyd's neck for over eight minutes during an arrest.

The incident sparked numerous protests, as well as looting and violent riots, across the nation in major cities. Locally, the city of Lynchburg experienced several unlawful incidents which resulted in arrests and city officials mandating a temporary curfew.

Pastor Jonathon Watson of Bible Baptist Church, and Pastor Tony Cousins of Morning Star Baptist Church planned the vigil. However, a number of residents not associated with those churches were also in attendance. Various pastors in the community joined them to speak messages of hope from the Scriptures and lead the crowd in prayer.

Several songs were performed, including "How Great is Our God," sung by Kim Johnson of Morning Star Baptist Church.

"Let's sing louder and let the devil know he has no victory," Johnson encouraged the crowd during the song.

Lady Cousins, wife of Pastor Tony Cousins, spoke to the children and reminded them that "You are all created in the image of God ... nobody can take away your identity."

Reedy Spring Baptist Church Pastor Dan Davis, in speaking of racial divides in this present world, referred to Biblical verse Revelation 7:9 which states that "all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb," indicating that God sees all people as being equals no matter of their race or nationality.

Find out more in the upcoming issue of the Times Virginian newspaper. Pick up a copy or subscribe at www.timesvirginian.com/subscriber_services to view the full article in the e-edition version.