43
Organizers hope prayer walk puts city on a positive course
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
Converge on Youngstown, a prayer walk, gets its impetus from a passage in Scripture. 1 Chronicles 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,” she said.
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 help 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.”
“When people come together, something can be accomplished,” Pastor Pangio said.
Flying High Inc., a community service and development organization that develops the potential of at-risk/disadvantaged young people, is among organizations involved. Jeff Magada, its executive director, said there is a growing prayer movement in the Valley as evidenced by the Prayer 3 Days event last year and the recent Men’s Rally at the Covelli Centre.
The City Prayer Team of Youngstown and a prayer walking group that meets Wednesdays in the city reveal a devotion to prayer in the city, he said.
“We have to get our hearts right,” Magada said.
He pointed out that a recurring theme of the prayer events is from 2 Chronicles 7:14. That passage reads: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Pastor Bob Offerdahl of Coitsville Presbyterian Church, who plans to participate in the converge event, said, “Prayer is not the last thing you turn to when things are bleak; it’s the first thing you do.”
Abundant Harvest, 104 Idlewood Road, Austintown, will meet for prayer at 6 p.m. today through Sept. 4 to prepare for Converge on Youngstown.
Who: Participants from the Christian community — area clergy, government, business leaders and laypeople.
What: The prayer walk will focus on praying for eight declarations of faith. They are health and healing spiritually and physically in homes and cities, peace and security from homes to the nation, prosperity of God to return to our cities, rebuilding and re-inhabiting cities, business success, free captives of addictions, people will be saved and return to the Lord and nations will be open to the Gospel message.
When: Walkers will gather at 11:45 a.m. Sept. 11 and start the walk at noon. Program will conclude at 3 p.m.
Where: Walkers will converge on downtown Youngstown from the four sides of Youngstown. Starting points are John Knox Church, 1806 Market St., on the South Side; Teen Challenge on the North Side; Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, 7 S. Garland Ave., East Side; and Rockview Christian Church, West Side.
Coordinators: Pastor JoAnn Pangio, South Side; Pastor Sarah Layshock and assistant Marijon Angelo, North Side; Pastors Les and Loretha Hawkins and assistants Audrey Tillis and Jason Pangio, East Side; and Mike Guierro and assistants Matt and Rachel Cairns, West Side.
Converge: Walkers will converge on downtown Youngstown on the square. There, each speaker will address a specific topic. Deadline to sign up is Sept. 6.
Contact information: Pastor JoAnn Pangio and Dr. Mike Pangio at Abundant Harvest World Outreach Center, 104 Idlewood Road, Austintown, 330-270-0046. Pastor Pangio at 330-719-7672.