Annual Cross Walk Unites Community in Faith

In quiet prayer and joyful song, the community came together in faith and fellowship to remember Good Friday by walking side-by-side, and taking turns carrying a wooden cross through town.

About 150 people lined the street on Lemon Grove Avenue, making their way along a one-mile route from the Lemon Grove Foursquare Church to the First Baptist Church of Lemon Grove.

Prior to setting off on the Community Cross Walk, a 14-year tradition in Lemon Grove organized by local clergy, participants gathered in groups to offer prayers for city leaders, local business, the sheriff’s and fire departments, the homeless, the disabled and disadvantaged, churches, the military, families, schools, and downtown redevelopment.

Lemon Grove’s diverse faith community was represented by a number of congregations and ministers, including Pastor Ula Tausaga of the Samoa Independent Full Gospel Church, Pastor Will Warren of the Christian Church of Lemon Grove, Pastor Jeff Lettow of the First Baptist Church, the Rev. Trish McRae of Lemon Grove United Methodist Church, Bishop Lew Zollinger of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints, Pastor Mike Pascual of the Foursquare Church, Pastor Thomas J. Graham of Second Chance Apostolic Church, and Pastor Mark Stapleton of Cornerstone Community Church.

A sheriff’s detail, headed by Jim Wieboldt, a crime prevention specialist at the Lemon Grove Station, helped keep walkers safe along their path.

Sandwiches and refreshments were served at the First Baptist Church, then participants gathered for a service reflecting on the last words Christ spoke on the cross.