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Heartbeat Ohio welcomes faith leaders to Valley
By Bruce Walton
CANFIELD
Youngstown may be a small town in Northeast Ohio, but a particular group has recognized it and Ohio as the heart of the nation.
Faith leaders and Christians from around the nation have begun a three-day convocation in the Touch Heaven Ministries Church, 10 Skyline Drive.
From Thursday evening to Saturday, faith leaders representing diverse ethnic, racial, cultural and interest groups plan to speak at the Heartbeat Ohio Convocation.
These religious figures, including national faith leader Lou Engle and Bishop Clarence McClendon, are what Frank Amedia, pastor of Touch Heaven Ministries, calls spiritual, political activists.
“We’re coming together with what always proves to be a bit of a challenging dialogue because we’re trying to expose the wounds and put them under the grace of faith where the healing really comes from,” Pastor Amedia said.
One of the greatest focuses of the event is concerning the world’s current political and racial divide and finding ways to heal it.
The convocation is the second stop on the tour across the country for the President of the United States (POTUS) Shield council after its Jan. 13 event in Washington D.C.
POTUS Shield is a council of faith leaders with a mission to lobby to bring the will of God into government and reaffirm the connection of the United States and Christianity.
The council’s formation immediately followed the election of President Donald Trump, hoping the Trump administration will influence the priority of the Christian church with the branches of government.
Thursday, the kickoff for the convocation started with worship, praise and teachings from the Rev. Marion Masters, founder of the Davidic Army in Ohio and a pastor from Israel.
Although it’s focused on the Trump administration, the council invites people of all political beliefs.
Herman Martir, a Texas pastor who also came to speak, said this is a bipartisan convocation.
“It’s not about being a Republican or a Democrat,” Pastor Martir said. “We’re here coming together as Americans who believe in the power of God.”
The church expects more than 300 visitors to attend the convocation in person, and with internet streaming of the event, its audience could reach 3 million, Mr. Amedia said.
The convocation will reconvene at 9 a.m. today and run through 5 p.m. and reopen from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.