Recently, ministers from around the Atlanta area convened at Christian City in Union City for a Day of Prayer and Counsel for Christian City. Top leadership of the seven not for profit corporations comprising Christian City, joined by leaders of Southwest Christian Care and Atlanta Christian College, presented themselves before a group of clergy to receive prayer and spiritual guidance.

Dean Collins, ordained minister and acting president of Atlanta Christian College, helped facilitate the event.

“It is not unusual in times of crisis for people to pray for intervention and guidance,” said Bob Crutchfield, President/CEO of Christian City. “It’s not unusual when people are desperate to cry out for help from a higher power. What’s unusual here is that neither of these situations were the case. This was an unusual ‘business’ meeting with no set agenda, no PowerPoint presentation, no packets of information distributed nor votes taken. This was leadership gathering with the clergy to acknowledge God, to humble themselves before Him, and to receive prayer. This was a time for leadership to receive Godly counsel from the ministry community about their work and their future. ”

Crutchfield continued, “Everyone is not called to work in the local church, per se, to speak from the pulpit, teach Sunday school classes or join the clergy. But, everyone is called to serve the Lord with gladness and honor Him in whatever they do. The 430 employees and 250 volunteers at Christian City do just that. These loving people serve the Body of Christ and the world by meeting the spiritual, physical, emotional and social needs of over 1,000 senior adults and children without families of their own. They need the strength and courage that only God can provide. They depend upon us to support them with our prayers.”

Carl Ryden, Christian City Chaplain, added, “Our goal is to strengthen our relationship with the local church and make our spiritual connection a little more formal. In many ways, Christian City is an extension of the local church, doing things that local congregations cannot do for themselves. To do that effectively, Christian City needs spiritual guidance from the ministry community. The Day of Prayer and Counsel was so beneficial that we are considering making it a regular event.”

Christian City began over 40 years ago as a home for children in response to area Christian churches trying to address the needs of abandoned or abused children with no place to call home. The first cottage opened on Valentine’s Day in 1965 with eight boys. Since then, over 1,000 children have found a warm bed, clean clothes, a good education and all the essentials needed to help them become successful adults. Graceland Thrift Store, located on campus, helps to fund the educational needs of the children and is always seeking donations.

Additionally, Christian City serves seniors, the aged and the infirm.

For more information call Christian City, 770-703-2636, or visit the Web site at www.christiancity.org.

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