BROWNSTOWN

Rain started to fall just as a small group of people began reciting the Lord’s Prayer outside Brownstown Church of the Nazarene.

The group was standing in the misty rain after carrying a large wooden cross from Brownstown Christian Church on Spring Street before erecting it at the Nazarene church on Commerce Street.

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The gathering was a part of Brownstown Ministerial Association’s annual communitywide Cross Walk to celebrate Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday.

The association has conducted the event the last 10 years or so, Brownstown First Baptist Church Pastor Scott Erwin said. Its roots, however, date back a few years earlier when pastors in the community started walking together for health reasons. The event then became a prayer walk before turning into the Cross Walk.

Weighing 10 pounds, the wooden cross is carried by volunteers to five different churches in the county seat.

Pastors and members of the public meet at a different church each day, walk together while some carry the cross and then participate in a brief Bible reading and prayer.

Chris Criminger, who has served as pastor for the past 21 years at Vallonia Christian Church, led the group Thursday. He read a passage from John 19 that talked about Jesus’ death.

He shared a story about a recent time when he was thinking about the death and cross, and a picture of a bright red rose came into his mind.

“I thought, ‘God, what do you want me to know about this red rose?’” Criminger said.

He said the lyrics to “Above All” came to mind.

The song describes the beatings Jesus endured but how he always kept freeing people from sin on his mind. The song compares a rose being trampled to Jesus’ beatings.

The moment reminded Criminger that God is always there, even through difficult times.

“His thoughts are about us and about you,” Criminger said.

Walking with the cross symbolizes much more than simply walking the streets of Brownstown in between churches, he said.

“It’s also about our walk of faith,” he said. “We walk it every day and put our faith in action.”

But seeing the cross being carried is a reminder of Jesus’ last days on Earth before he was crucified, died and was buried.

“When I see someone carrying the cross like I did today, it’s always a reminder of the suffering of Jesus Christ,” he said. “We come together at Easter for his resurrection and to celebrate that his power is real and it’s here today.”

Criminger participated in Cross Walk each day this past week and said it was inspiring to see members of different churches come together, worship and anticipate Easter.

“I think you don’t see a lot of visible testimony of churches doing things together like this,” he said. “It’s great to see local churches come together for this.”

Churches sometimes have a difficult time working with other churches because of differences, he said. That was not what Jesus intended, Criminger said.

“Jesus’ last prayer in John 17 was a prayer for unity,” he said. “I think there are a lot of Christians that don’t live out that prayer. God has people in all different kinds of churches or even out of churches, but any time we can gather people together like this for a common purpose is powerful.”

Marilyn Reedy, a member of Brownstown Christian Church, said she enjoyed coming together with other churches for the event.

“I think it’s wonderful, and it shows us that we’re not keeping others from worshiping in their manner at their church,” she said. “We’re all God’s children. I’ve lived here all my life and know all the denominations, and I’ve never found any of them that doesn’t have the common practice of recognizing Jesus as our Savior, and that’s what it’s all about.”

She noticed everyone prayed the same prayer at the end, and it was evidence that faith is about Jesus, not churches.

“I heard every voice,” she said. “That was wonderful and inspiring knowing we all knew that prayer and said it together.”

Lisa Davis, another member of Brownstown Christian Church, shared that sentiment and said she enjoys participating in the event because it may get people curious enough to explore faith.

“I think people may see us out there and maybe they don’t know Jesus, but they will see us and it will get them thinking about what we’re doing, and maybe that will be just enough to get them curious to come find out,” she said.

Although she’s more of a private person, Jesus’ story has driven her to take part in the public display of the Cross Walk.

“He was the perfect sacrifice and opened the door for us to be with God,” she said.

Reedy said she has walked in the event since it began, and she does it to bring attention to Jesus and to thank him for her blessings.

“God has blessed me so much, and Jesus is my savior and holds my hand,” Reedy said. “Anything I can do for him, I will.”

As everyone prayed, Davis said she thought about God listening to everyone’s prayers and hearing them in different languages and through song. Then she thought about how God sends his blessings, even in the rain.

“Here, he is pouring out all his blessings on us, and all we did was honor him,” she said.