14th-annual Christ Walk on Good Friday, April 15 welcomes participants

STEUBENVILLE -- The 14th-annual Christ Walk has been planned for April 15, Good Friday, with all area residents invited to participate.

The walk begins at the Sycamore Youth Center at 301 N. Fourth St., Steubenville, with a brief ecumenical service at noon. It will be led by Bergholz Faith Community Church Pastor Chad Thompson and Bobbyjon Bauman of the Sycamore Youth Center. Worship will be led by Jenna Porter, Bella Thompson and Nadia DeNoon.

At approximately 12:30 p.m. the 7-mile walk from Steubenville to Wintersville will get under way, ending at Crossroads Christian Church, 110 Springdale Ave., Wintersville,

"This event is truly all inclusive when it comes to the body of Christ," noted Amanda Thompson, event spokesperson, in a news release. "It does not matter where you attend church or what denomination you are -- we want to fellowship with you on Good Friday. As a group, followers of Christ have many differences but the one thing we all agree 100 percent on is that Jesus died for our sins and overcame death to allow us access to eternal life," she noted.

"This is the heart of our walk -- for all followers of Christ to show unity and remember the sacrifice of our Saviour."

Thompson added that the years of holding the Christ Walk have fostered "God moments" and forged lasting friendships.

"The support of the churches in the area is overwhelming and always present, so please come out and join us for our walk," she added.

There will be stops along the way at Grace Lutheran Church, 2105 Sunset Blvd., at Eastern Gateway Community College and at Starkdale Presbyterian Church, 4600 Sunset Blvd., on the way to the final stop at Crossroads Christian Church in Wintersville.

"Here we will have ecumenical communion and worship led by Amber Eiler of Crossroads North River who has put together a worship team from several area churches," Thompson explained, anticipating the walk should end at about 4 p.m.

"Please don't let the length of the walk stop you from participating as many people come just for services," she noted.

"We have a van following us in case you need a break, and we gather people at all the stopping points," she said of what is not a fast-paced walk but is instead intended to be a time for prayer and fellowship.

For information, call or text Thompson at (740) 512-2400.