By Lee Weyhrich
Divisions within Christianity have existed since the time of Christ. From time to time church leaders have attempted to bring the different denominations together. The first major gathering of different denominations was in 325 A.D. at Nicaea, and there have been numerous gatherings since then. The latest effort to unite the churches will take place in this area.
Palmerdale United Methodist Church pastor Jason McIntosh has a plan to unite six Pinson-area churches. Next week, Solid Rock Church, Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church, Palmerdale Baptist, Pinson Methodist, Grandview Baptist and PUMC will get together to celebrate Holy Week, the week before Easter. Each night from March 24 through March 29, the congregations of those churches will meet at a different location and listen to a guest preacher who has never stood behind that church’s pulpit.
“This is something I had done in Tennessee,” McIntosh said. “I talked to some of the other churches and asked if they wanted to get together for Holy Week. Sunday night through Friday night we’re just going to walk with Jesus, together.”
The inter-church revival services are unique in that they bring together three Methodist churches, two Baptist churches and one non-denominational church. The host church, each night, will provide the music and the worship service but the preachers will be swapped up, McIntosh said.
“I think it will pull the whole community together,” he said. “I think it will send a message to our community. Sometimes the churches seem so fractured. We’re all really about the same thing, even if we do it differently, with our own styles.”
The week kicks off at Solid Rock with Rev. Mike Carver from Taylor Memorial. Monday’s service will be at Taylor Memorial with McIntosh. Tuesday, the congregations will meet at Palmerdale Baptist with Grandview pastor Jim Hill. Larry Ragland, pastor at Solid Rock, will lead service at Pinson Methodist on Wednesday
. Thursday’s service will take place at Palmerdale Methodist and will be led by Richard Statham from Pinson Baptist. Pinson Methodist pastor Bob Murray will lead Friday’s service at Grandview.
PUMC and Palmerdale Baptist will also get together on Easter for a sunrise service. Everyone is invited to attend these services, McIntosh said.
“This is a good opportunity to get all the community churches together, and bring together people of slightly different beliefs,” McIntosh said. “We are all united in Christ, and Easter is when we celebrate his sacrifice. We can walk his path together.”