The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher
Religion Columnist

It was a setup. Yet, no one knew anything about it. It was the unknown factor for the March for Jesus. Everything else had been choreographed down to the final benediction. Except one thing. You might call it the God part. God's always slipping in a surprise!

You see, march organizers had decided to invite four individuals to pray over specific areas in local and national life. The fourth prayer who was to pray for leaders remained a mystery. This one thought that one had contacted "him" who supposedly had accepted (it turned out that the official we asked had to be out of town for the weekend).

Saturday morning came. No fourth prayer. As the crowd started arriving, Steve Foster was standing with me discussing our need for the fourth. Steve spotted an elected official and asked me, "Isn't that Judge Chris Edwards walking toward us?"

Indeed it was. Remember the candidate who stood on Fayetteville streets waving to us as we went to work? Well, he was elected as superior court judge. Judge Edwards and his daughter were simply coming to be two of the thousands in the March for Jesus.

Steve Foster looked at me and asked, "Is Judge Edwards the one we are supposed to ask?"

We approached him together, explained our circumstantial needs, and he agreed to pray.

"This was a divine appointment," Steve Foster said. I agreed. The crowd who participated in the march rally also agreed. We never heard such power and truth and sincerity to come from the lips of an elected official. Now, I know why we elected Chris Edwards. I wish we had a recording of his brief remarks and his prayer.

Four devoted men prayed on our behalf Saturday morning at the rally. All of them prompted "amens" from the crowd: Shane Wilbanks, Willie James Christian, Rick Snow and Chris Edwards. Nevertheless, I sincerely believe Chris Edwards proved that God showed up.

Judge Edwards had not been invited as someone special. In fact, it did not appear he came because he was an elected official. As crazy as it may sound, it appeared he marched for Jesus because he is a Christian.

I usually don't mix this column with personal politics. Yet I just have to type a printed, "Glory!" for an elected official the likes of Judge Edwards. God in all his sovereignty showed up in his honor.

As a teen growing up in the south I remember superior court judges who were a little too cozy with the crowd on the edge of the law. I'm thankful that I know a superior court judge who's not ashamed to cozy up to God's crowd.

It is tough being a Christian in a secular world. How much tougher must it be to serve as a Christian in an elected position. As we're thankful for Judge Edwards and other Christians who seek and hold office, let's remember to pray for them. It must be tough.

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