By Staff
WALKING THE WALK Madison Godfrey, left, looks as Taylor Grey points out the Jubilee Mennonite Church during the 2004 Ten Commandments Walk on Saturday sponsored by the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Godfrey and Grey are both Brownies in Troop 154.Photo by Kyle Carter / The Meridian Star
By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Feb. 29, 2004
Dr. Raymon Leake kept calling them suggestions.
Then the smallest of voices, from the youngest of children was heard from the back of the sprawling sanctuary at First Baptist Church.
Leake is pastor of the church that was the first stop for more than 150 boys and girls involved in local scouting programs, and about 30 adults who participated in a Ten Commandments Walk in downtown Meridian on Saturday.
The walkers toured several different churches and heard from 10 ministers, who each talked about one of the Ten Commandments from the Bible.
Leake talked about the difference between a suggestion and a commandment and what the first commandment "You shall have no other gods before me" means.
He led the group in prayer and told the children that they are "number one" in God's book and he wants to be "number one" in their book.
Leake said he wanted to be a part of the Ten Commandments Walk because it opens the doors of the churches in the community, possibly to some who may not have a church. He also liked the idea of the walk because it invites young people to think about their relationship with God.
John Beauregard is the executive of the Choctaw Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He said that while the Scouts have a lot of events centered around fun and camping, part of a Scout's oath is to do their duty to God.
He encouraged young people to participate in the Religious Emblems Program offered through the Scouts, that involves the Scout's family and religious leaders who help the Scout learn more about their religion or faith traditions.
Organizers of the walk plan to make it an annual event.
Sandra Pace, Girl Scout leader with Troop 430, sponsored by Fifth Street Baptist Church, said she liked the idea of the walk because she said the Scouts need to know about different religions.
Patt Elliott, membership and marketing director of the Girl Scouts of Gulf Pines Council, said it is good to see the commonality between different religions.
Beauregard said seeing the differences and similarities helps promote religious tolerance and respect for the beliefs of others.
Other participating churches in Saturday's walk were Jubilee Mennonite Church; First Christian Church; St. Paul's Episcopal Church; Central United Methodist Church; First Presbyterian Church; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; New Wine Ministries; 31st Avenue Baptist Church; and St. Patrick Catholic Church.