By Jill Runfola

Recognized here are a few parishioners of all ages from The Orchard Christian Fellowship Church in Monessen.

Pastor John Custer of The Mon Valley Community of Pastors, who sponsored the event. Pastor John also held indoor prayer during the March in the sanctuary of the church he pastors.

A lovely view of the Victory demonstration held on July 13.

Some walkers took shade while out in the heat participating in the March.

This first ever ‘Victory March’ in Monessen gave Christians the opportunity to publicly pray over the city and declare their faith as an example to others in the Mon Valley. On Sat., July 13, 2024, from 1:00PM– 2:30PM, an actual parade of believers gathered with banners and in trucks, and with a police escort, in The Schooner Center Parking Lot in Monessen. They marched for approximately 25 minutes, braving the heat, from the lot to Second Street and back via Donner Avenue.   The event was also held inside the sanctuary of Orchard Christian Fellowship to offer a cool prayer place.

One of the Victory March Pastors said, “This is not a small thing. This is a pretty big deal. This is a great way to show unity within the Body of Christ.” Pastors and leaders from eight different local churches joined the event praying for unification and for the welfare of the city, as people from all over the Mon Valley came together in prayer.

Sponsored by the Mon Valley Community of Pastors and Monessen Mayor Ron Mozer, the day was amazing. Mayor Mozer observed that there were numerous spectators and others coming out of their businesses to join the March. The event proved to be the outworking of 1 Peter 3:9, in which the church is instructed to publicly proclaim the virtues of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.”