Churches aim to break barriers

Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning county churches worshiped together.

By ED RUNYAN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Nate Wilkerson of Williamsfield feels at home at Cherry Valley Church of God in Ashtabula County, but the Youngstown native felt equally at home Saturday night in the Youngstown Banquet Center on South Avenue.

Wilkerson brought his wife, Amy, and five children, ranging in age from 4 to 13, to the center as part of a cross-cultural, cross-religious experience called Hands Across the Valley.

The event brought together people from Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning counties and from three churches to celebrate, worship and break down barriers between people of different communities, said Chuck Gantz of the Cherry Valley church, the main organizer.

“I think it’s good for everybody to get together,” Wilkerson said as he sat with two of his sons, Noah, and Jonah, on his lap, during a performance by the Rock of Grace praise and worship group.

The four-hour event also featured free food and information about the upcoming Collide East Music Festival, to be held at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds on Aug. 24-25. It will feature contemporary Christian entertainers Michael W. Smith, Jars of Clay, Sonicflood and Point of Grace.

Gantz said the subtitle of the event was “A Message of Hope,” because it also brought in representatives from Teen Challenge of Youngstown, which provides counseling and placement in treatment centers for young people with drug addictions.

‘Not about denominations’

“It’s not about denominations. We’re sharing God by bringing together different pastors and giving of themselves,” Gantz said. “I had a vision to bring together three counties to celebrate Jesus the way it’s supposed to be done — breaking down barriers.”

The Rev. George Johnson Sr. of Agape Assembly Church of Warren said the focus is on salvation. “After the salvation, the blessings come,” he said of the participants who came to the event with problems to overcome.

The Rev. Leewood Whitfield Jr. of Restoration Church of Youngstown said the event “crosses all boundaries.”

runyan@vindy.com