Pam Dudding-Burch
Contributing writer
With an increase of crime and uproars in recent years, there are still people in the United States of America who are not only wishing for peace, but acting on creating it.
Dorcas Martin, a resident of Craig County, recently said that she has been saddened by recent events and wants to start a positive joint effort in Craig which she hopes will “spread like wildfire” to other counties, states and maybe the entire USA.
“I had been listening to the news and reading about all the unrest in our country and what bothered me the most was the public outcry to take ‘In God We Trust’ off our money, off of license plates and anything else it appeared on,” she said.
Martin also noted that Bible Study and prayer had already been taken out of most schools in America.
“It seemed there was a concerted effort to take God completely out of our lives and it made me mad,” Martin noted. “We, as Christians, have sat back and stayed silent too long. It is time we stood up and let our voices be heard and let everyone know that they can try whatever they want to completely obliterate the name of Jesus Christ, but they can not take him out of our hearts.”
Dorcas wishes to see all people come together to stand as one for God, regardless of race or denomination.
“I kept thinking about everything that was happening in our country (and the world) and I was really bothered by the fact that as things got worse, we needed Christ more than ever,” Martin said.
At a recent Wednesday morning Bible Study, which includes women from many different churches, someone asked what was on her mind, which she gladly shared. “Everyone got excited, and thus our planning began,” she said.
Dorcas planned the first meeting where eight churches, including 25 citizens, attended.
At first, the idea arose to have people join hands along route 311 and sing songs of praise before meeting at the library for even more singing and a potluck. However, the Sheriff’s Department explained that it would not be safe as there are no places for people to stand safely off the road.
Nevertheless, Martin desired for a name that explained the vision and settled on “Hands Across Craig County for Christ.”
Plan B was birthed when Minnie Guthrie suggested that this be spread within the churches. As a result, letters were sent to every church in Craig County and two in Catawba explaining their vision of people taking a few moments during their worship time to, if possible, go outside, form a circle, hold hands and pray and sing praises.
Betty Kendall also suggested that if a church has a bell, ring it at noon. “The community is used to us ringing our bell for a call to worship but not at noon,” Martin said. “This would let the community know something special was happening.”
The eventful day is scheduled for Sunday, September 9. The potluck will be held at the Craig Valley Baptist Church picnic shelter located on Highway 615.
“We will meet at the shelter at 1 p.m. for a potluck lunch and an afternoon of prayer and songs of praise to Christ,” Martin noted.
Martin has some volunteers – Ken Looney (parking), Ike Craft and Paul Beaudoin (setup), Donn Ford and Bill Frazier (prayers) and Ike Craft and Faye Powers (coordinating music) – and encourages more to help with the event. Anyone who plays or sings is also welcome.
“I wish to thank each of them, in advance, personally for their support and several for volunteering to assist with the various tasks,” Martin said.
The Potluck Lunch is open to the entire community of Craig. Everyone is asked to bring their favorite dish and a drink or dessert.
Several representatives have already volunteered to bring paper plates, napkins, cups, salt and pepper, water, ice, lemonade, knives, forks, spoons, unsweet tea, sweet tea and garbage bags.
In the case of severe weather, the event will be rescheduled for a later date.
“We welcome the community of Craig County to come and join us for this joyous occasion this Sunday,” Martin shared with a smile. “Let’s all join hands and make a joyful noise to the Lord.”
