Unity In Community And Beyond

FARMINGTON -- The fourth annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast held at Farmington Senior Center Thursday morning emphasized promoting unity in the community and beyond.

City Council member Diane Bryant, who represents Ward 4, welcomed those in attendance, declaring, "We are pleased and blessed to live in this community."

Bryant announced the recent formation of a Farmington Ministerial Alliance and cited Romans 14:19 from the New International Version (NIV), "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."

The Farmington Area Ministerial Alliance is comprised of: Farmington Methodist Church, Brand New Church, Northwest Assembly, Main Street Baptist Church, Church of Christ, Abundant Life Church, Farmington First Baptist, Unity Baptist and Farmington Nazarene Church.

Farmington Mayor Ernie Penn spoke of the definition of unity, "the state of being united or joined as a whole," while acknowledging things that create differences among people such as having different political parties, different religions or no religion, or poverty.

"Never in my lifetime have I seen a world so fractured," Penn said. "Becoming a Christian and getting baptized changed my life. It changed how I treat people."

As he described the change in his outlook on life, Penn said it brings to mind Psalm 133:1: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

"We are a united city," Penn declared. "As mayor I have the privilege of working with dedicated people," as he listed various city departments and officials who, he said, are all united in making Farmington a better place to live.

Penn thanked the pastors and churches represented noting, "Each church and each pastor brings something special to our community and their churches," Penn said.

Brad Sugg, pastor of Abundant Life Church, prayed for unity in Farmington.

"We pray for unity in our amazing community," Sugg said. "Where men have built up walls of segregation and separation, we pray against that."

Pastor Jacob Roach of Northwest Assembly prayed for unity in the state of Arkansas, praying for every leader and every decision that leaders make, praying each will have an anointing and wisdom to make godly decisions.

"We understand that there is no perfect place, but we are thankful to live in this place," Roach said. "Help us to be a state that will show your love."

Dee Harper, pastor of Farmington United Methodist Church, prayed concerning unity in the nation. He prayed for military personnel deployed overseas and their families.

"We are acknowledging this morning that in many ways our country has disunity," Harper said. "We're wanting to have things our way. I pray that we would remember 1 John 4, if you love God, then love your brother and your sister...I pray for our elected leaders that they would model that unity."

Cary Weaver, pastor of Farmington First Baptist Church, prayed for unity and support for families, the elderly and schools.

Weaver referenced the prayer of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John, Chapter 17.

"He prayed that we would be one," Weaver said. "I'm overwhelmed with the thought that if Jesus prayed for us to have unity -- we must need it...Keep us unified and doing what is best for others...In Philippians Paul tells us not to consider only our own interests, but look out for the interests of others...I pray that families will continue to be the bedrock of our community."

Dwight Gonzales, pastor of Unity Baptist Church, prayed for unity among churches.

Gonzales said there is only one thing that can bring unity, faith in Jesus Christ. Gonzales said in Ephesians Chapter 4, Paul told the church "that ye might come into unity," and Ephesians 2:14 states, "He (Jesus) is our peace."

"Unity brings peace," Gonzales said. "There's no way we can have unity in our community, in our state and in our world unless we believe in Jesus Christ."