Sunday evening, two churches came together at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital to hold a prayer vigil for staff and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Around 60 people from Turning Point Worship Center, of Aberdeen, and RockFish Church, of Raeford, came together at 6 p.m. in front of the main entrance and the ER entrance of the hospital. They lined the sidewalks six feet apart with signs of encouragement.
“This is really special that they would take time to come out and thank us for what we do,” said a FirstHealth employee.
When speaking with leadership team member Keith Fields from RockFish Church, he said, “Health care workers are doing so much. They are working overtime and doing all they can do. I felt like they just needed encouragement, and we should cover them with prayer. They need support.”
Pastor Stoney Locklear from Turning Point Worship Center said, “We had the same idea also. They came last week, so I got in touch with them, so we can come together and do it again.”
Every time an employee entered or exited the building, the parking lot was filled with cheers as the group thanked them for their service to the community. While walking through the area, you could hear each person praying for the staff and the patients.
A nurse that works in an area couldn’t see what was happening. The nurse approached Sandhills Sentinel toward the end of the event asking what exactly was going on.
As Sandhills Sentinel began to explain what the two groups were doing, tears began to flow. “You have no idea what this means to me, to us,” said the nurse. “This is wonderful. Thank you all so much for coming and doing this.”
A visitor of the hospital stopped to take photos and said, “When a group comes together to support the essential workers of the community, it is a beautiful thing.”
RockFish Church plans to get together and do this again. They’re not sure of a date, but they would like to support Cape Fear Valley, in Fayetteville, next time.
~Article and photos by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Curtis Self.
