BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty wants all area pastors and ministers of every denomination to come together and pray for the county and its residents Dec. 3 on the steps of the government center in Inez.
The judge also invites all residents to join the special “Christmas Blessings Prayer” at 9:30 a.m., which will kick off the main day of the Christmas in the Mountains festival.
“My main objective as judge is to bring unity to our county and the Christmas season is the perfect time to gather and pray for that to happen and for blessings to be upon us in the coming year,” said Lafferty. “If we trust in God to lead and guide us, I firmly believe the county will begin moving in the right direction as we work toward a common goal.”
Lafferty’s staff will provide pastries, coffee and hot chocolate at the prayer.
“There is no better time than the holiday season that celebrates the birth of our Lord and Savior to bring our church leaders together for a moment of prayer over Martin County,” Lafferty said.
“Our county is hurting, and we have much to do to begin building a better way of life for all who call it home and to see prosperity and growth take place like we have never experienced before. Every step we take needs to be covered in prayer, and we look to our religious leaders and their knowledge to guide our path.”
Lafferty believes unity is about coming together.
“It’s high time we stop looking at the name above the church door and come together for the good of our county. Church and politics do have one thing in common, and that is we may have different beliefs, and we may not agree on all matters, but unless we are willing to set aside our differences and work together, we will never fully succeed,” said the judge. “The saying we’ve all heard that it takes a village to raise a child is true, and we can learn from that and realize that it takes all of us working together to move the county forward. We are no longer towns or communities; we are one county.”
For more information about the Christmas Blessing Prayer, call the judge’s office at 606-298-2800.
“I’m hoping the public will come out and join us and take time to pray for better days for our county,” said Lafferty. “While you’re here, take a few minutes to acquaint yourself with some of the greatest pastors anywhere in this state who are committed to serving God and doing his will.”