For nine years the annual Heal the Land service has taken place at a different Marion County church and promoted unity among Christians.
Worshipers will continue the tradition this year at 6 p.m. Sunday at The Church on Main.
Organizer Corene Russell chose “United We Stand” as the theme after hearing a song on the radio with that title.
“Listening to the lyrics, I discovered a very important message that reminded me of the many things we stand for and how difficult it is to take a united stand for Christ,” she said. “We align ourselves with many worthwhile causes for personal, political, social or other reasons. We stand boldly without fear of retaliation or ridicule from our neighbors or coworkers. However, when we are asked to take a stand for Christ, unless we are in our comfort zone, inside the church, we sometime hesitate. “
Russell said the meaning of the song transcends generations, races and denominations.
“Although the song ‘United We Stand’ was new to me, its mantra is not new to us,” she said. “This theme was around in the 1700s during the American Revolution. It surfaced again as a rallying cry for the Union cause during the Civil War, and by the early 20th-century, labor unions had taken up the slogan as a call for solidarity for better working conditions. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the phrase reemerged along with the flag as Americans confronted a new national crisis.”
She said the phrase “should ignite the children of God to publicly declare the need to come together for the healing of our land” and urged community members to participate in the service.
“When Christians begin to appreciate or at least listen to each other’s viewpoints without feeling threatened or being judged, we will lessen the divide and increase our chances of truly being united in the spirit of love,” she said.
Pictured Above: The annual Heal the Land service is set for 6 p.m. Sunday at the Church on Main. Here, participants sing during last year’s event. | File Photo
