First Westminster sharing messages of hope in trying days
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STEUBENVILLE -- After less than a week, First Westminster Church's new prayer wall is already covered with messages of hope and concerns.
The wall -- made of plywood -- measures roughly 5-by-20 feet and is coated with purple chalkboard paint so passersby can leave messages.
"It's pretty unbelievable," the Rev. Jason Elliott said. "We put it up last week and it's been really fun to see how fast it's getting filled up -- the names, the needs, everything from cities to health care workers, grocery workers, National Guard units and individual names and families."
The wall, which replicates the shape of First Westminster, helps fill the gap left in the community in the weeks since large gatherings were banned and social distancing became the norm.
"It's a way (for them) to express (themselves), in a non-threatening way," he said. "When you can't come to church, you can still come and very humbly make your requests known. Even though we can't be in church, there's something about places of worship that brings people there and you feel the presence of God."
Elliott said they were looking for "a creative, unique way to bring the community, bring our congregation together, and give people a tangible way to express hope and express prayer -- to take the burdens of their life and give them a chance to give them to the lord and invite other people to pray for the requests they see on the prayer wall."
He said the wall is a short-term project, though he's not sure how long they'll leave it up.
"We just got the sense this is going to be a really nice opportunity," he said. "We're seeing less and less purple and seeing more and more names and requests."
He said the messages people have posted are "born out of every conversation, the burdens and trials, the challenges we go through." Elliott said people who come to the wall to post messages invariably find two or three names or causes to reflect on.
"It's not only for our church congregation, it's for folks in the community," he said. "It's another connecting point to the church, it kind of holds us together. They enjoy coming down and being there -- they can't go inside, so it's the next best thing."