A group of Pennsylvanians took steps toward unity during a Saturday morning worship service in front of the state’s Capitol, amid mounting tension across the country.
People of different ethnicities, ages and branches of Christianity spent nearly two hours together, singing and praying for change in the wake of the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd.
The gathering was peaceful and at times emotional as about two dozen ministers from across Pennsylvania recounted the violence that has struck the country after Floyd’s death. Each one called for change — from society as a whole, but also specifically from Christians.
“This is a time to pray for justice, to pray for peace and to pray for humility,” said Kurt Weaver, the director of strategic partnerships for the Pennsylvania Family Institute in Harrisburg.
David Kandole, a black pastor at Harrisburg’s Word of Grace Ministries, said he has experienced racism as a Christian and challenged those who identify as such to do better.
“Many Christians here in our nation that knew racism is wrong, satanic, wicked — instead of standing up against this evil and exposing it, they stood in silence," the pastor said. "And some try to justify this evil with Bible verses to condone this sin.”
He also recalled a conversation he had with his 23-year-old son about Floyd’s death. The exchange — during which his son told him he wonders if life would be easier if he was born white — has stuck with the pastor.
His son told him he was shocked to hear people ask if Floyd resisted arrest, or had done something wrong to deserve to die.
“He said ‘Dad, some people said let’s wait until all the facts are out, while they’re watching the man dying [in the video],’” the pastor said. “He said, ‘We watch a man struggle for his life calling for his mother.’”
Kandole said he was struck by his son’s remark that he could have been in Floyd’s position.
“On behalf of our sons and our daughters, we owe them to stand up,” Kandole said.
The service was also a time to celebrate the togetherness that comes from shared faith.
The crowd broke off into small groups for prayer at one point. People who had never met bowed their heads together. Others cried and leaned into one another, and a group of small children held hands.
As music played, members of the community knelt on the pavement with their eyes closed or lifted their hands to the sky in praise.
“I think black children deserve a safer world,” said Camp Hill resident Jennifer Hoover of why she felt compelled to attend the gathering.
Hoover said she has white sons, and wants black children to feel just as safe as her boys do.
Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas Carter was also at the service and received a blessing from the ministers.
Carter told the community to continue peacefully.
“Right now we need some healing balm in this nation, and I feel the power of the Lord here right now,” Carter said. “Everybody is tired of the injustices in this nation. It is not a black thing or a white thing, it is a people thing."
However, he urged people to keep protests peaceful so police aren’t forced to get involved.
“What happened to the protesters in D.C. was a tragedy,” Carter said. “We’re not a third-world nation. We do not turn American soldiers against American citizens.”
As the final notes of “Amazing Grace” faded out, the community broke from a final moment of prayer with a reminder to take the day’s lessons of solidarity into the world.
“Let’s go out. Let’s work together, let’s listen to one another, let’s pray for another," Weaver said. “Our future is bright and our hope is secure in Jesus Christ.”
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