In just a few short weeks, representatives from several local churches will be banding together to form a Life Chain to take a stand against abortion and they are asking others to join them.
Several area churches, including St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Holston Baptist Association, Heritage Baptist Church and Hosanna Fellowship, are sponsoring the local participation in the International Life Chain on Sunday, Oct. 2, from 2-3:30 p.m.
In years past, the event was held at one location in Johnson City. But this year, event organizers decided to have Life Chain events at three locations across the city, said Interfaith Life Chain Committee member Carolyn Merriman.
“We thought by having it in three different locations we could have a bigger impact,” she said. “Also, all three locations are on major roads with a lot of traffic.”
While the event is being sponsored through a partnership between several Johnson City churches, Merriman said everyone is invited to take part in the event, regardless of what church they attend.
The three locations for this year’s Life Chain events are Heritage Baptist Church, located at 1512 John Exum Parkway, University Parkway Baptist Church, located at 219 University Parkway, and Hosanna Fellowship, located at 715 Sunset Drive.
The Interfaith Life Chain Committee sent letters to many pastors of the churches in the area asking them to participate in this year’s event.
“We encourage you to preach on pro-life topics during September and promote participation in the Life Chain event,” the letter states. “We ask you to promote this event to your church members and join us at one of the Life Chain event sites.
“We hope you will join us praying for unborn children and their parents, praying for our church community to support pregnant women and their babies, and praying for the leaders of our country to make good decisions that honor life and freedom of religion,” the letter adds.
Those wishing to participate are asked to gather at one of the sites. A church pastor or member will give a brief introduction and opening prayer and then participants will move to the sidewalk or grass in front of each of the churches holding pro-life signs. Participants can bring their own signs or some signs will be available at the event for those who do not have their own.
The Life Chain event and organization originated in Canada in the mid 1980s and by 1989 it had become an international event. The first Life Chain event in Johnson City was held in 1989 and it has been an annual event ever since.
According to the organization’s website, the National Life Chain organization maintains the Life Chain event as a peaceful public prayer event and requests those taking part to remain non-confrontational. The signs of the Life Chain proclaim six messages: “Abortion Kills Children,” “Abortion Hurts Women,” “Adoption is the Loving Option,” “Jesus Forgives and Heals,” “God Forgive Us and Our Nation,” and “Life the First Inalienable Right.”
For more information on the Life Chain event in Johnson City, contact Carolyn Merriman by e-mail at csmrn12345@aol.com. For more information on the National Life Chain organization, visit their website at www.nationallifechain.org.