43
Church ‘steps out’ for community
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Members of the Cathedral of Hope Church on Jacobs Road decided they wanted to introduce themselves to the community.
So they did Sunday, by having services on the front lawn of the church and also offering drive-up prayer on Jacobs Road.
Pastor Paula Lockett-Harris said there will be more outdoor services this summer and the drive-up prayer will be offered every Sunday, weather permitting.
“The church has to come out from behind the four walls and come out into the community,” Pastor Lockett-Harris said.
She said she has been at the church, which was formerly known as the Church Of Hope, since 1990.
She said church members have passed out fliers and gone door-to-door in the Sharon Line neighborhood to tell people of some of the services the church offers, including a soup kitchen that operates from September to June.
People like to see church members being engaged in their neighborhood, Pastor Lockett-Harris said.
“Most people don’t expect you to be outside your four walls,” she said.
At the first outdoor service Sunday, a couple walking down the street joined the congregation, which included the church band and singers outside.
Church members also were standing on the sidewalk and on the median strip holding up signs offering prayer. Pastor Lockett-Harris said the goal is to meet people where they are and pray for their needs, regardless of whether they attend her church, another church or even church at all.
“It’s always good to offer prayer,” she said.
She said prayer will be offered on the street every Sunday, weather permitting, from 11 a.m. to noon, before services start.
“Anyone is welcome to come back for prayer,” Pastor Lockett-Harris said.
There are at least three more outdoor services planned, also weather permitting, she said.
She said she is happy that church members were warm to the idea of having services outside.
“It’s something different,” Pastor Lockett-Harris said. “We are a nontraditional church seeking a nontraditional God.”