Mission Mississippi is celebrating 20 years of racial reconciliation tonight at 7:30 p.m. on the north side of the Square.
The event will highlight the faith-based program’s success in sponsoring and coordinating opportunities for people of different denominations to form relationships since 1993.
In addition, members of the organization are partnering with Fellowship of Christian Athletes to promote Mississippi Glowing for Christ. The 2,489-mile walk across the state will feature high school and college Fellowship of Christian Athletes members as they carry a 6-foot-tall battery-illuminated cross through 82 counties in 82 days.
“The Ku Klux Klan burned the cross,” said Lee Paris, a Mission Mississippi board member. “This is a lighted cross. If you burn something, it’s short-lived. If you light it, light travels for millions of years. That’ll preach.”
The illuminated cross will be carried from Batesville into Oxford and through the Ole Miss campus around 6 p.m., just before the ceremony begins. It will also make an appearance at the Texas A&M vs. Ole Miss game tomorrow night, which Mission Mississippi members hope will make a visual statement.
“The university was very gracious,” Paris said. “We’re going to be in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium during the game, not before the game. We want to bring honor to the Lord, but this will also be good press for our state.”
Tonight’s event will begin with a welcome from Mayor Pat Patterson, followed by an invocation from Rev. Chris Diggs of Burns United Methodist Church and the personal testimonies of FCA’s Todd Johnson and Ole Miss football player Jimmy Potepa. Donald Cole and Jim Greenlee will pray for the city of Oxford, Lafayette County and the Ole Miss campus before Paris speaks about “following the cross.” Rev. Justin McGuire of College Hill Presbyterian Church will conclude the program, which will feature special music by Andrew Gardner.
“The common denominator we have that’s stronger than (race, politics or gender) is Christ,” Paris said.
Mississippi Glowing will conclude with a statewide celebration and worship in Jackson on Oct. 27 at Veterans Memorial Stadium. For more information about Mission Mississippi or Mississippi Glowing, visit www.missionmississippi.org or call 601-353-6477.
