"A Cry For Peace" - Peace Walk
Photograph © 2019 Everal Blake
'A Cry For Peace' - Peace Walk
Monday 26th August 2019, 12 noon from NTCG Harvest Temple, Wednesfield Road to Heath Town Park in Wolverhampton.
The 'Cry For Peace' - Peace Walk was organised by Men 4 Positive Change (M4PC), which is an initiative based in Wolverhampton aimed at getting young people to turn away from gun and knife crime. The group organised the Peace Walk ahead of its annual Community Family BBQ event which took place on Bank Holiday Monday 26th August in Heath Town Park. The large numbers in attendance demonstrated that the community has quite simply had enough and that gun and knife crime must end in Wolverhampton.
The peaceful participants walked from NTCG Harvest Temple on Wednesfield Road to the main stage in Heath Town Park. Two Pathfinder drummers from SDA Church led the walk, followed by around 10 church leaders, members from local congregations, plus the community. There were large banners at the front and rear of the procession with the slogan 'A Cry For Peace'. Some were wearing t-shirts with the same message and there were many placards carried by some of the 300 participants. The walk concluded with a short address and prayer for peace in the park, however the theme continued throughout the annual Family BBQ and Sports Day
Joseph Jackson, who heads up M4PC says, "To sit back and do nothing is no longer an option for the church."
Bishop Windsor Queensborough stated, "Walking with Christian brothers and sisters, as well as members of the community, the Peace Walk felt like a significant moment for myself amongst many. It was a visible demonstration of unity across boundaries, as we face the growing crisis of violence on our streets. It was also a statement that our churches and community are not prepared to stand by, just wringing our hands. We are determined to use whatever resources we share to protect the vulnerable, to heal the hurting, and to resist the elements intent on destruction. Our Cry for Peace goes on."
Bishop Ruben King believes, "Collaborative working is the way forward to address critical issues like youth violence in our community. The Peace Walk was effective and almost doubled in number by the time it arrived in Heath Town Park, with people from the community holding banners and placards with messages proclaiming peace on our streets. The community wants positive change and clearly connected with the message of hope shared through the Peace Walk and the well-attended, all expenses paid Family Sports Day and Barbecue delivered by our local churches working together. Our collective aim is to build on the positive outcomes from the day with strategic initiatives that will benefit all."
M4PC is supported by the New Testament Church of God, Church of God of Prophecy, Zion City Tabernacle and Seventh-Day Adventist Churches in Wolverhampton.
Photographs © 2019 Everal Blake
