MANSFIELD — The March of Prayer returns for the fourth year, offering a prayer service every night in March, each night hosted in a different local church.
The 30 congregations represent more than two dozen denominations, each hosting a 6 p.m. service in its authentic style, making it possibly unique throughout the country or even Christendom.
“That is a big statement, I know, but while many communities will host cooperative services between some or many congregations, they typically are one service with leaders trying to accommodate everyone’s style in one setting,” said Paul Lintern, coordinator of the event. “This allows each host to maintain the authenticity of its traditions, theology and worship style.
“It invites participants to pray for our communities, our country and God’s Kingdom by entering many corners of that Kingdom, in a spirit of partnership with the Gospel of Jesus.”
Under the theme that ”Mansfield is Godsfield,” and “Richland is God’s Land,” each hosting congregation will pick its own format and topics of prayer, selections of music and opportunities for participation.
One service may be mostly silent, another full of praise music, another with prayers on topic throughout the service, another with emphasis on reading scripture. Communion might be offered, groups may tour the worship space to pray for specific topics as prompted, and revival sought.
“When Jordon (Baker) and I planned the original March of Prayer because we were hoping that people who pray for our city would see that they are not alone, and that it would spark revival that comes from the Holy Spirit nudging unlikely people to partner in faith,” Lintern said. “We picked March because it is that end-of winter, almost-spring month that is preparing us for Easter.
“We filled up the month and by the time we were halfway through, more churches asked to host, so that we actually went 49 days in a row, right up to Easter Weekend. More than 4000 people participated. The next year, we were planning to go 65 days to the National March of Prayer, but COVID caused us to pray the last 45 days on our Godsfield Facebook page,” Lintern said.
“Last year we met on location for 35 days in a row, until Easter, although the pandemic had its effect on attendance.
“I see nothing to hold us back this year.”
Plans are for services to be livestreamed on the Godsfield Facebook page, and through congregational sites; the streaming is being coordinated by Mark Pierce, pastor at Church Requel.
This year’s schedule includes one site that hosts two different congregations, with Holy Trinity Lutheran beginning the March in its sanctuary and a new fellowship, Coming Together in One Accord, meeting in the chapel on March 12.
One congregation, Fusion Madison, will host two nights, in different locations — March 5 at its current location on Paradise Drive, and March 28 at its new location in the former East Hills Presbyterian building on Rte. 430.
Four sites are new to the March of Prayer, including two that are in their first year of existence. Ten sites are in the first generation of existence while three have served in their building for more than a century. Eight congregations date back to the 1800s.
“The diversity is astonishing, and is a big part of the appeal of traveling from one site to the next over the course of the March,” Lintern said.
“It is a welcoming, nonthreatening way to visit a variety of congregations, and those who participate generally walk away with the feeling of being at home with each congregation.
“I know of no other place where this is done in this way. God is doing great things through it.”
Services begin at 6 p.m. and will continue up to two hours.
Schedule for March, 2022
Tuesday, March 1 — Holy Trinity Lutheran, 525 W. Cook Rd.
Wednesday, March 2 — Journey Life Center, 2578 Springmill Rd.
Thursday, March 3 — Mansfield Salvation Army, 41 S. Main St.
Friday, March 4 — Church Requel, 2 Marion Ave.
Saturday, March 5 — Fusion, Madison, 1400 Paradise Lane.
Sunday, March 6 — Journey Harbor, at Idea Works, 40 W 4th St.
Monday, March 7 — Grace Brethren, 215 W. Main St., Lexington
Tuesday, March 8 — Kingdom Grace Fellowship, 105 Reba Ave.
Wednesday, March 9 — Providence Baptist, 112 W. Sixth St.
Thursday, March 10 — The ARC, 378 Park Ave. West
Friday, March 11 — Abundant Life, 1085 Bedford Blvd.
Saturday, March 12 — Coming Together on One Accord Ministry, 525 W. Cook Rd. (Holy Trinity Chapel)
Sunday, March 13 — Freedom Ridge, 2200 Bedford Blvd.
Monday, March 14 — Grace Fellowship, 365 Straub Rd. E
Tuesday, March 15 — GracePoint Sanctuary, 36 Eagle Dr., Lexington
Wednesday, March 16 — Lexington Church of Cross, 236 Otterbein St., Lexington
Thursday, March 17 — Faith United Methodist, 1574 Oh 96/ across from Crestview
Friday, March 18 — Fusion Church, 2220 Industrial Parkway, Lexington
Saturday, March 19 — Sar Shalom, 2510 W. Fourth St. — 10:30 a.m.
Also: Point of Grace, 2 Marion Ave., 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 20 — Open Bible, 1150 Rayfield Dr.
Monday, March 21 — Awake, 3616 Ohio 39, Shelby
Tuesday, March 22 — First United Methodist, 12 N. Diamond St.
Wednesday, March 23 — St. Peters Catholic, 60 S. Mulberry
Thursday, March 24 — Mansfield Foursquare Gospel, 383 Davidson
Friday, March 25 — Biblewalk Museum, 500 Tingley Rd.
Saturday, March 26 — Paradise Hill, 87 Illinois Ave. N.
Sunday, March 27 — Potter’s House, 374 Willowood Dr. East.
Monday, March 28 — Fusion at East Hills, 2170 OH 430 E
Tuesday, March 29 — Linden Road Presbyterian, 160 S. Linden Rd.
Wednesday, March 30 — First Christian, 200 W. Third St.
Thursday, March 31 — First English Lutheran, 53 PAW
