Churches unite to honor first responders
POTTSTOWN>> Under sunny skies and blustery conditions, nearly 150 people gathered in prayer to honor the men and women in uniform Sunday.
Suspending regular Sunday services, representatives from eight community churches making up the Tri-County Evangelical Association of Ministers held a special outdoor prayer service at Smith Family Plaza to recognize the work of local first responders, the military and veterans. Local police, firefighters and EMS workers were given plaques thanking them for their service, while leaders from the local churches sang songs, prayed and read from scripture.
Participating churches included Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Hopewell Community Church, Pottstown New Life Assembly of God, Pottstown Bible Church, El Shaddai Pentecost Tabernacle, Iglesia Casa de Oracion, Victory Christian Life Church and Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
During the two-hour ceremony, the Rev. Pastor Charles Cedeno, of NewLife Assembly of God, thanked first responders for risking their lives during emergency situations.
“When the rest of us are running out, they’re running in,” he said to applause. “They’re willing to go on their posts everyday not knowing if that’s their last day on the job.”
Pottstown Police Chief Richard Drumhel ler thanked everyone for their support.
“I can tell you that this job is about standing unequivocally in the face of danger,” he said. “We understand in each police officer’s house that today could be the last day that we go to work. That fosters a closer relationship with God than you could ever believe.”
Drumheller challenged everyone to find their calling in life and pursue it.
Pottstown Mayor Sharon Valentine-Thomas thanked the crowd for participating in the event saying their prayers made a difference. She also thanked first responders.
“On 9/11 there was no one saying ‘there are people who are Muslim in this building, I don’t think I’ll go in and help,’” she said. “‘ There are people who didn’t speak to me yesterday, I don’t think I’ll go in and help.’ They didn’t say ‘I have preference this way or that way.’ That’s the same for our first responders.”
Among those in attendance for the ceremony was U. S. Congressman Ryan Costello, R-6th Dist., who praised the event and its message.
“Great fellowship, great music, a very diverse attendance,” he said. “I thought the message of focusing on our country and the role of church in Pottstown and improving Pottstown was a great message. Beautiful weather too.”