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This Sunday, Christians spanning denominations and races will gather at the Beaufort County Courthouse to pray for peace and healing across the United States, as well as hold a candlelit vigil in memory of the late Washington Mayor Mac Hodges.

The event follows a series of similar prayer rallies held earlier this year after the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd sparked widespread protests and unrest throughout the country.

“I feel that ever since everything started happening, people are going back to their base, which is prayer,” said Kingdom Life Community Church Pastor Antwan Horton, one of the rally’s organizers. “We know that our land is sick, and in need of healing, so that’s why we’re all coming together as one body and just praying.”

Horton said the event will bring Christians of all races together in a time of prayer, with a number of local churches committed to participating. From his perspective, and the perspective of others participating, that fellowship is a way to both show unity in the face of division and offer a platform to discuss the problems currently facing the United States. He hopes to see events like the one coming up Sunday become more commonplace for those reasons.

“One thing I’ll say as a pastor, is that we’re known to start something and then not continue it,” Horton said. “This is one thing we need to keep going. I think we need to have a prayer gathering every quarter, because we get so comfortable in our own four walls at our own space. It’s time for us to hit the streets and start compelling people to come back in.”

The prayer rally is scheduled for Sunday at 6 p.m. in front of the Beaufort County Courthouse. All are welcome to attend.