By SABRINA BERNDT

Washington Daily News

One faith center is looking to combine the power of prayer with the power of good health in an effort to bring the community together.

The Cornerstone Family Worship Center is hosting its first Cornerstone in the Park Community Day on Aug. 25 at Festival Park. In partnership with Cornerstone’s Beaufort County Healthy Clergy, Congregations and Communities, or BCH3C, program, the day will be full of informational and healthy activities for community members from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“The three C’s are clergy, congregation and community,” said Cornerstone’s Bishop James McIntyre. “The third phase is community, and with what we’re doing now, it has to do with the health, wellness and fitness of our people, in terms of trying to get them a good quality of life.”

Events will kick off around 10:30 a.m., when Cornerstone will host a 45-minute church service, along with providing prayer and support throughout the day for those in need. After the service, it will transition into a more general community event.

Free school supplies for children to celebrate the beginning of the school year, door prizes, inflatable activities and free lunch will also be offered, according to McIntyre.

With vendors such as Beaufort Vidant Hospital, Beaufort County Health Department and Department of Social Services and more, Community Day is both faith- and health-based, offering on-site health screenings and resources.

According to McIntyre, health became a personal priority after realizing the widespread affects of obesity and unhealthy diets.

“When I came to this community 17 years ago, I had quite a few members of our church who were dealing with high blood pressure and sugar, things of that nature,” McIntyre said. “Actually, one Sunday morning during a service, I had a person pass out. … Their sugar had dropped. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I needed to get more knowledge in terms of helping the people that I serve in this community.”

Cornerstone’s BCH3C program was born in 2017, with a focus on spreading a healthy lifestyle throughout Beaufort County’s faith community. For example, Cornerstone created the Ministry of Health and makes an effort to provide healthy snacks and meals during church events.

“Our goal is to try to help people live a good quality of life and a long life,” McIntyre said. “Then, of course, from the faith standpoint, it is to get as many people we know to come in contact with those who don’t have a relationship with Christ to help them gain a relationship with Christ.”

For those interested in becoming a sponsor or vendor, Cornerstone will be accepting applications until Aug. 16. Contact cornerstonecbpmgr@gmail.com for more information.