In these troubled times, when people are out of work and the economy is struggling, one local pastor is heading up an effort to bring together Christians of all denominations to pray for the city.

The Bless the City Walk will be held on Saturday at 3 p.m. starting at BB&T on Main Street.

Pastor Larry Johnson said he has led prayer walks before, but never to this scale. He felt called to lead the Bless the City Prayer Walk effort because, he said, this is a time to bless local businesses, children, schools and teachers, city officials, law enforcement, rescuers and the economy in general in Surry County.

“I have led many prayer walks in my nearly 30 years of ministry and have seen with my own eyes the difference it makes when God’s people pray. I want to invite everyone who believes it is time to come out and bless our city,” Johnson said.

He said people will start gathering at BB&T on Main Street at 2 p.m. The walk will begin at 3 p.m. He said many people are planning to park at the Blackmon Amphitheatre where the walk will end, and walk up Main Street to BB&T.

“Believers from all walks of life and many churches will come together along with pastors, youth groups, church leadership, community leadership and business owners to pray our way down Main Street asking God to bless our schools, local businesses, law enforcement, emergency response teams, city officials, our economy and more,” Johnson said.

Johnson wanted to point out that while he is the preacher at Firehouse Ministries, this is not a Firehouse Ministries event. He wants people of all faiths and walks of life to come out and participate.

He said he sent out letters to 55 different churches in this area and posted the event on Facebook. So far on Facebook, 172 people have said they will attend and 143 say they may attend. Johnson said that judging from the people he has talked to, there should be at least 300 to 400 people there that day, if not more.

He has been encouraging Boy and Girl Scouts, youth and church groups to attend and to bring their banners to hold in front of their groups as they walk down Main Street.

Johnson said the Bless the City event is not about any denominations, group or individual church.

“Instead, it’s about laying aside our minor man-made traditions in order to come together and work as a team to walk through our city and declare it blessed,” Johnson said. “We want to keep this simple. We love our city, and we want to show a sign of Christian unity to our city leaders.”

The event will be held rain or shine.

Reach Mondee Tilley at mtilley@heartlandpublications.com or at 719-1930.