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Community unites for prayer walk

Aug. 13, Christians from many of the church’s in Olney and surrounding area gathered in front of the Olney Elementary School to hold what some say will be an annual event to lay hands on and pray over all three Olney ISD campuses.

Rev. Harrell Braddock, Jr. pastor of First Methodist Church of Olney says the idea of a prayer walk for Olney ISD was brought to his attention by his wife Jan, a 2nd grade teacher. Jan felt a conviction and a passion to make this happen this year.

Rev. Braddock wasted no time and contacted the ministerial alliance and local pastors like Pastor Chad Edgington of Olney First Baptist Church with the idea-- which got the ball rolling. Rev. Braddock says with all that has gone on this summer a prayer walk is just what was needed.

Pastor Chad Edgington said “with all the news that’s been so bad lately and shootings with so many people that are disturbed and so many people that need Christ and so many people that don’t have families that love them, just a lot of troubled people. When we’re (parents) sending all our kids up here its like putting gold into Fort Knox” by that he went on to say that the parents wanted their children to be protected like Fort Knox protects the gold. Pastor Edgington says the way we protect our children and teachers is to pray for them and over them.

After an initial speech from Pastor Edgington about what things would be good to pray about, a prayer was offered by Rev. Braddock. Afterwards,s the group broke off into individual groups to begin laying hands and praying on each of the three Olney ISD schools. One could see tears and hear passionate prayers throughout the Olney ISD campuses that night for all the children and teachers.