MCCOLL— Councilman Brian Blue hosted an inaugural prayer event last Tuesday, during which the town of McColl, members of the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office, Bennettsville Police Chief Sammy Crosland, and several other McColl Council members joined together for an evening of prayer at the cross on North Main Street in McColl. Pastor Brian Oxendine of Oak Hill Church of God in McColl led the prayer session.
Councilman Brian Blue said the idea came to him because he wanted to bring the community together.
“We all need prayer. Hopefully this will be an important first step to continuing to bring our community together,” Blue said. He continued, “I reached out to the MCSO and they were glad to come– even brought along free hotdog snack bags and drinks. This event is really about community involvement and putting God first in our community. Prayer brings change and we need more positive change in McColl.”
Deputy Young, Corporal Purvis, Sgt. Heffner and Chief Deputy Larry Turner from the MCSO came out to show their support, hand out free snack bags to attendees, and most importantly, pray with their community.
Deputy Young said, “These types of events are much needed in this community. I’m so glad to see people coming out to participate. I think we should hold more of these types of events around the county because we do all need prayer, right?”
Bennettsville Police Chief Sammy Crosland also attended McColl’s Prayer event.
He shared, “I believe God and prayer should be first in all we do. We all need more prayer in our lives. We are living in a time where someone will hurt another person just because they spoke to them, our kids face a daily onslaught, and prayer is needed all across this country, but it starts with events like this, in small towns and little communities like McColl. I am very thankful to Councilman Blue for hosting this event.”
Several McColl town Council members also came to pray with their fellow neighbors, including Councilwomen Lorraine Sampson and Brenda Barfield, and Councilman Harry Benjamin.
“This event is important because there is power in prayer, power for positive change. I wanted to be here tonight so people know the Mayor and Council are with them, we are concerned, and we care, because we live here too. We love our community and want to see it grow,” Sampson said.
Echoing Sampson, Barfield said she was also thrilled to attend.
She said, “I am a very religious person and I really believe God is the reason for everything. I think this is wonderful for our community and I am glad to be a part of it.”
Councilman Benjamin said he was grateful to his fellow Council member for organizing the event.
“I just want to praise Mr. Blue for holding this event. I know this was very important to him and I’m excited for the great turnout this evening. Prayer is the foundation of change and we need this to bring us closer together in McColl. This is a great start,” Benjamin said.
Local resident, Marie Moore, said she came out because praying with and for her community is very important to her.
“I came out to represent my church, Mt. Elem Free Will Baptist Church. Marlboro County needs prayer and I hope to see positive change in the community,” Moore said.
Councilman Blue says they are holding another prayer event next month, rain or shine.
“If it’s rainy weather, I’ll get together with the mayor and we’ll pray inside the town hall.”