COLUMBUS, Ind. — Members of The Sanctuary in Columbus have high hopes for answered prayer for Bartholomew County and nearby residents.
In fact, those hopes are at least 10 feet tall — and 30 feet long.
That’s the size of the church’s just-unveiled, front lawn Christmas Prayer Wall, the idea of Senior Pastor Matthew Johnson, who began his local ministry in July. And Johnson is inviting all area residents to write their anonymous prayer requests on ornaments to be hung on wires on the wall during the rest of the month at 3939 Central Ave. Plastic tubs of wooden and plastic ornaments, gloves and hand sanitizer also are provided, and organizers are asking visitors to wear masks and socially distance.
“While Christmas is a time of joy for so many, we realize there are also those going through difficult times,” Johnson said. “The pandemic has given some a sense of hopelessness. We believe in the power of prayer, and this is a way we can unify together.”
The pastor mentioned that the wall is not only a way for people to support one another spiritually, but to give real hope to those struggling amid the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are social beings,” Johnson said. “And this isolation is difficult for most of us. And if you talk to area counselors, you’ll hear the same.”
People already are only sharing serious concerns. One person hung a small photo and request for prayer for a tiny baby born with hypophosphatasia, a rare genetic disorder characterized by the abnormal development of bones and more. Another posted a picture of two small twins slowly recovering from a near-drowning on Thanksgiving Day.
For more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.
