“People are welcome to come and lay down roots, and be the family that God has called us to be”

Ten churches in Alabama united in a prayer circle bridging cultures, languages, and birthplaces, AL.com reports.

“About 100 people from Haitian, Hispanic and white congregations gathered Sunday afternoon in Albertville for a prayer rally the organizers said was about healing divisions in the community and forging bonds.”

“I think this a positive movement for our community, trying to organize, because we need that right now,” said Jeff Lamour, a Haitian resident of Albertville and businessman. Lamour was one of the event’s organizers.

“It’s a moment of healing in our community, and we all need to be more united. Just people. Just us and Jesus.”

….

Chris Johnson, pastor of nearby Albertville First Baptist Church, said the event was part a “grassroots movement.”

“There are definitely people that feel differently about the situation in our community, but there are so many of us who want this to be a place of peace, where people are welcome to come and lay down roots, and be the family that God has called us to be,” Johnson said.

“In our personal life, we are connected to our Haitian friends and our Hispanic friends in a strong way. And there are lot of people in our city as well. There are some here who are trying to learn a new culture and figure that out, but there are a lot of positive things happening here too.”

In a column about the event Bill Britt, Editor-In-Chief of the Alabama Political Reporter, wrote:

“That’s the spirit we should be championing. It’s about more than simply coexisting—it’s about reaching out, teaching new skills, and learning to see one another as neighbors rather than strangers. Lamour, for instance, is actively working to help recent Haitian immigrants integrate by organizing English classes and translating the Alabama driver’s manual into Creole.

“In the face of fear and misinformation, the people of Albertville are showing what it means to build community, brick by brick, heart by heart. It’s a story that deserves to be told, especially when others would rather paint our new neighbors as a problem rather than see the potential for growth and connection.”