First Free Will Baptist Church of Washington is calling all area law enforcement to attend a service Sunday, dedicated to recognizing them for their service.

The church is inviting active duty and retired local, state and federal law enforcement in the area to attend Sunday’s services at 10:30 a.m.

According to Pastor Todd Parrish, who comes from a law enforcement family and has had experience as a chaplain with first responders during his career, said the church wants to have an ongoing ministry in law enforcement.

“I developed a heart a long time ago for (law enforcement),” Parrish said.

Parrish said members of the Washington Police Department, as well as members of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, N.C. Highway Patrol and other state and federal retired officers have expressed interest in attending. Other attendees may include NC Wildlife Resource Commission officers and various parole and probation officers, according to Parrish.

According to Matthew 5:9, scripture says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” The verse is one that illustrates the need to recognize and honor those who enforce the law and serve the community by protecting its citizens, according to Parrish.

“We’ve invited everyone that can come,” Parrish said. “We, as a church family, want them to know their lives matter and that we’re behind them. They matter to us, We want to have a day to let them know they matter to us. They are making a difference. We also want to give them a place to connect and let them know, in the future, if they need someone to pray with them or support them in time of personal crisis, there’s a church family at Ninth and Bonner (streets) that will be here for them.”

Parrish’s brother, W.K. “Kent” Parrish II, a retired criminal agent with the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, will lead the service, providing some Biblical thoughts relevant to law enforcement. Kent Parrish II will give a message of encouragement from God’s work from one law enforcement official to another, Todd Parrish said.

“He’s familiar with this area, having worked many of his first cases in the Washington area. He worked a lot of cases in and around Beaufort County,” Todd Parrish said.

Following the service, law enforcement and their families are invited to attend a special luncheon in honor of them, and attending law enforcement will receive a special edition of the Bible, geared toward their line of work, according to Parrish.

For more information, contact Pastor Todd Parrish at First Free Will Baptist Church at 252-946-5934.