What started as a simple message to pray grew into more than 150 people gathering in the parking lot at the Germantown P.D. and offering support to law enforcement across the country.
“People are looking for this, to show their support,” Germantown Village President Dean Wolter said.
David Berghuis, a Pastor with CrossWay Church in Germantown, said the main focus is to go to God in prayer. “There’s a mindset that needs to change for unity as far as our country is concerned,” he said.
As the sun set and brilliant blue Mylar balloons softly swayed in the evening air neighbors in Germantown heard about racial tension soaring across the country, the extreme hate and killing of innocent lives and law enforcement the need to turn back to God.
Organizers talked about a call to prayer and quoted John 15:13.
‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’
Volunteer Janni Boyd said the turnout was very encouraging. “The timing is right for this,” she said. “Ultimately our point is to glorify God, pray for protection for our officers and our country.”
Retired West Bend Police Officer Gail Trapp is a member of CrossWay Church. “It’s extremely disturbing that people look at officers as being the enemy and not people that will come and help them,” she said adding this event showed the commitment of the community to law enforcement and their faith.
“Why would you wait for something to happen first before you come and pray? Let’s pray first,” Trapp said. “The power of prayer is awesome.”
Uniformed officers and dispatchers walked into the parking lot to a strong round of applause.
Chief Peter Hoell spoke briefly thanking the folks who organized the gathering and talking about always standing guard and being on watch because that’s the environment we’re living in.
“It’s amazing what our community does,” Kathy Bork from Germantown said. “We watch out for one another, we care for one another, we’re there for one another.”