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Good Friday walk with the cross is testimony of faith
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
Ambassadors for Christ shares a public testimony of faith through its signature event, the annual Good Friday walk with the cross.
This year marked the 15th event presented by the organization of East Side congregations, which formed in 2000.
Lenten programs are the mainstay of the group, highlighting the shared belief in Christ’s ministry. Clergy of participating churches present Lenten services that include Scripture, prayer, music and fellowship.
Member churches and clergy are the Rev. Joseph Rudjak of Holy Apostle Parish-St. Stephen of Hungary, 854 Wilson Ave., and Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 421 Covington St.; Pastor George Wilkins of Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, 328 S. Forest Ave.; the Rev. Jack Pettis of Mount Zion Baptist Church, 827 Wilson Ave.; Pastor George Moore of St. James Church of God in Christ, 75 S. Prospect Ave.; and Pastor Roney Tucker of We Walk by Faith Bible Church, 1636 Himrod Ave.
About 30 people from member churches and other supporters walked with the cross this year. They sang, prayed and recited the Stations of the Cross.
The Rev. Mr. Pettis, president, described the walk “as a display of Christian unity.” He noted member churches represent congregations of black and white members. “It’s a community event of fellowship,” Mr. Pettis said. “It shows our support of one another.”
Father Rudjak, who came to Holy Apostles in 2011, said the walk “is a visible sign of Christianity.”
“The walk is meant to deepen the experience of Good Friday ... reflecting on Christ’s suffering and death ... for participants and onlookers,” he said. “We hope it sends a spiritual message as we witness our faith through participation.”
While the walk focuses on the significance of Good Friday, Father Rudjak said walking on city streets also makes participants “aware of the suffering of people, especially the poor.”
The walk with the cross began at We Walk by Faith Bible Church on Himrod, then followed Oak Street toward downtown, continuing onto Wick Avenue and Commerce Street, left onto East Federal Street and then over the bridge to Wilson Avenue.
Passers-by wave and motorists honk in acknowledgment, Father Rudjak said. “I think they are generally respectable and appreciative of the walk.”
“I believe the walk draws attention to a sense of community we have and our responsibility to support one another,” the priest said.
Barbara Kulka, a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish and Ambassadors secretary, has participated in the cross walks since the beginning. “It makes an important statement,” she said. “For me, it’s a tradition. It’s what I do on Good Friday ... without Good Friday there would be no Easter and Resurrection.”
She emphasized the gathering shows that though there is a mix of churches, there is only one God.
Pastor Tucker added he saw the walk “as a public reminder of why Jesus died on the cross for our sins.”
“It calls attention to the day and what it means,” he said, adding he knows some people see it as a “day off of work” but it means so much more in terms of the Christian faith. “But, it’s our job to present this to the people,” Pastor Tucker said.
Pastor Tucker said Jesus gave us the example of forgiveness. Luke 23:24 reads, in part, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
Pastor Tucker’s son was killed June 6, 1995. He admitted it is tough to forgive in some situations. “Pastors have to be an example of that and be forgiving,” he said. He said those involved in his son’s killing are someone’s sons. “If the situation were reversed, I would want my son to have a second chance,” he said.
Pastor Corinthia Reynolds of Born Again Ministries said she was participating for the first time. She recently visited Jerusalem, and said the walk with the cross is a reminder of Jesus’ journey there centuries ago.