Approximately 125 people attended Sunday evening’s 'Prayer Walk-Thru' that was held at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School. There was a sense of togetherness and reverence as pastors, students, parents, teachers, school officials and church members, who were all volunteers, walked through the classrooms and halls praying and asking God to bless the school along with its students and teachers for the 2010-2011 school year.

BEHS Principal Randy Maxwell said he could not think of a better way to kick off the school year.

Darrell Smith, Director of Missions for the Barnwell-Bamberg Baptist Association, said he had been working on this for ten months. He said the idea was well received when he approached Principal Maxwell and School to Work/High Schools That Work Coordinator Heather Ulmer. They were very cooperative in allowing the Barnwell-Bamberg Baptist Association to host this. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), a student organization, also helped to promote the event.

"As Christians, we need to meet the needs of our community and schools through prayer, tutoring and mentoring. We want to involve others in helping our children. A specific example is the need for volunteer tutors at BEHS and BEMS," said Smith.

Bamberg First Baptist Pastor, Reverend Charlie Lucas, told everyone, " We are here to pray. You go...You scatter...You pray. Pray big, pray a prayer that will challenge God and believe that He will do what you ask. Go in each room and pray and expect something big."

Area churches that were represented at the event were Bamberg First Baptist, Friendship Baptist, Denmark First Baptist, Open Door Baptist, Savannah Creek Baptist, Spring Branch Baptist, Trinity United Methodist, Orangeburg First Baptist, Open Arms, Riverfork, Bamberg Church of God, Kingdom Life Ministries, Bamberg Church of the Nazarene, Word of God and Bethel United Methodist.

Smith said some of the responses of participants were: "Positive experience with the Lord there," "Very moving," "Good encounter with the Lord," "Felt the Spirit of the Lord there," and "Great experience praying with the teachers."

He said next year they hope to cover multiple schools and they envision this to be more than just an annual event.