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The Whittier community is a small conservative community that believes in the power of prayer and for that reason we organize this event every year to unite believers from all walks of life together under the same roof in order to pray for the authorities, for our troops serving abroad, for our community and for the kingdom of God
Community members unite in prayer at the Whittier, Calif. corps. (Photo by Odla Concalves)
The Salvation Army Whittier corps, led by A/Captains Marcelo and Odila Goncalves, recently hosted the sixth annual Whittier Prayer Summit.
Roughly 300 people community members, firefighters, police officers, and leaders from all denominations of nearly 40 local churches came to pray together in themed prayer sessions of 10- to 30-minute intervals that focused on everything from safety and education to city officials.
“The Whittier community is a small conservative community that believes in the power of prayer and for that reason we organize this event every year to unite believers from all walks of life together under the same roof in order to pray for the authorities, for our troops serving abroad, for our community and for the kingdom of God,” A/Captain Marcelo Goncalves said. “It is amazing how much we can do together when nobody is concerned about who gets the credit.”
Pastor Steve Davis, of the Redeemed and Delivered Ministries in Whittier, said the city is “unique in that it puts aside denomination and everyone works together.”
“In Whittier,” A/Captain Odila Goncalves commented, “I can feel how all the people work together to help their community.”
The summit was a full day event, held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and organized by longtime Whittier resident Dwight Sullivan, pastor of the Evangelical United Methodist Church in Whittier.
“It’s a constructive and healthy event where people who believe in the power of prayer come together,” said Sullivan.
Pastor Rebecca “Becky” Miyahara, of Cornerstone Celebration Center International, brought a 10-member dance team that performed during one of the sessions.
Whittier businessman Mike Delgado has been attending the event for the past five years. “No competition. No politics,” said Delgado, 47. “We just come together in prayer.”
Excerpts from a story by Kathy Johnson in the Whittier Daily News.
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