On Sept. 11, marchers will converge downtown for prayer, ceremony to end violence

By LINDA M. LINONIS

linonis@vindy.com

youngstown

Converge on Youngstown, a prayer walk, gets its impetus from a passage in Scripture. 1Chronicles 9:24-25 reads, “The gatekeepers were assigned to the four directions ... the east, west, north and south.”

Pastor JoAnn Pangio of Abundant Harvest Church in Austintown said she was inspired about Christians walking from the four sides of the city and converging in one place.

“We encounter various derisive and negative comments. This is about something positive that brings people together,” she said.

The pastor said a regular occurrence in the city also motivated her to pick a Saturday for the event. On Saturdays, the emergency siren sounds at noon. For Pastor Pangio that seemed like a natural starting point, and walkers will get under way when the siren goes off. “It’s a pretty simple idea.” Walkers will go about one mile into downtown, where a program of speakers is planned. Each will have a specific topic for prayer.

The fact the event is Sept. 11 adds another dimension.

Dr. Mike Pangio, the pastor’s husband who also is at Abundant Harvest, said, “God hears prayers. Prayers helps remove hindrances.”

The Pangios said Converge on Youngstown is an avenue for Christians to come together for one purpose. “There is power in unity,” said Pastor Sarah Layshock, also of Abundant Harvest. “I believe something great can be accomplished with prayer ... changing the hearts of people ... to stop the violence.”

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.