ELIZABETHTOWN — A white T-shirt, a bottle of water, perhaps an umbrella and, most importantly, a willing heart for God will be the main ingredients needed on Saturday, July 16, when the third annual Bladen County Walk for Christ is held.
The event is the brainchild of Doris Cromartie, a congregation member of Living Springs Church in Elizabethtown, but she is the first to say the Walk for Christ is a multi-church event.
“It’s not easy to get numerous churches together for one event,” she said. “We try to focus on being one big church community instead of separating ourselves by denomination (and) it is getting easier and easier as the years go by.”
The day will start at 10 a.m. on the front lawn of the Bladen County Courthouse with several speakers from numerous area churches, along with inspirational music and fellowship.
At 11 a.m., those attending will begin the Walk for Christ — walking as a group from the courthouse west on Broad Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., turning south toward the Cape Fear Farmer’s Market and continuing to Fresh Foods grocery store, turn east on Swanzy Street and continue to South Poplar Street, then turn north on U.S. 701 and walk to the Post Office before finishing back at the courthouse.
“I believe the message this walk is trying to give is that no matter what color your skin, where you are from, or the amount of money in your pocket, as long as we do right by Christ and do as he would expect from us, He will reward us in return by making our community a safer place,” Cromartie said. “In order to have order, we need Jesus back in our community. We go to baseball games and other events, but when do we make time for events to spread the Gospel outside the church building?”
That’s what led Cromartie to create the event — along with some personal time with God.
“I simply prayed. I prayed that God would help guide me to do the right thing in order to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Cromartie, who was born in North Carolina but raised in New Jersey. “You see a lot more events in the north than you do here — events where we honor Christ publicly should be everywhere and should be more often. We as Christians should walk in obedience and draw more attention to Christ.”
All those participating in the event are asked to wear white T-shirts. And to help with the summer heat, water and umbrellas are encouraged.
Jessica Edwards can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.