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The Ninth Annual “Cross Walk” held by Landmark Assembly of God Church Saturday morning attracted support from the community on Easter Weekend.

The event began at the parking lot of Lowe’s on West Andrew Johnson Highway and has grown each year to include more church members, especially members of the church youth.

The hour and a half, 3.2-mile trek went from the Lowe’s parking lot on West Andrew Johnson Highway to the church located off Morris Boulevard next to Morristown-Hamblen East High School.

Church Pastor Raymond Pratt is pleased that the annual walk picks up more participants each year.

“We always seem to increase with the amount of people walking,” he said.

“It’s a blessing to see youth who want to serve The Lord,” Pratt said. “He is important and has made a difference in their lives. It sends a message not only to our community, but to their friends who may look and say, it’s fun to serve Jesus.

“It’s an awesome experience.”

Pratt said that we obviously couldn’t do what Jesus did. He realizes that Jesus was a man of divine character and was the only person who could have taken the beatings by soldiers and others on Good Friday.

“We try to depict it the best we can,” Pratt said. “We try to send a message of love, mercy and grace to a world that is broken, hurting and looking for answers.”

The walk had humble beginnings, according to Pratt.

“A member of our church had placed the idea of a cross walk on his heart in 2017,” Pratt said. “He wanted to get our youth involved. He wanted to show the community that it is fun and important to serve Jesus. We took it and it continued to grow from there.”

While the walk was ongoing, drivers and riders of vehicles who passed by blew their horns and expressed their support.

Landmark Church of God is located at 334 Montvue Avenue in Morristown near Morristown East High School. Sunday services begin at 10:45 a.m.

For more information, call 423-258-4413 or visit Landmark’s Facebook page.