GREENFIELD — Large black letters span the window at the back of the pickup truck cab: “Don’t let them divide us.”
Its driver is Jody Ballenger, a local pastor who in 2020 saw the social unrest in society and thought perhaps there was a way to keep it from boiling over locally.
In June that year, the first Greenfield United event brought together law enforcement officers, white and Black pastors, and other members of the community to talk about racism and inequality and look for a path forward in unity. Ballenger spoke of his own Korean heritage and racism he had faced growing up.
“I thought of bringing the community together beforehand,” said Ballenger, pastor of Evangel Church in Greenfield. “We know law enforcement’s not perfect, but we do support our local law enforcement.”
After the event, he received positive feedback.
“A lot of people felt like it was really like a healing (thing),” he said. “It was something that ministered to them personally to be part of it.”
Even amid favorable comments, the pastor hadn’t really planned on a second event at the time. Later, however, he reconsidered.
Greenfield United is really about “trying to bring the community together in a time of crisis,” he said.
“The crisis is just different this year. Millions of people have lost their jobs. Hunger is an issue.”
As a result, this year’s event — while still championing an overarching theme of unity — will also highlight several local organizations on the front lines of fighting hunger and present them financial contributions.
Representatives from several of those organizations will speak at the event, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6 on the Courthouse Plaza in downtown Greenfield. So will Greenfield Police Chief Brian Hartman. Ballenger said the police department’s voice is an important part of the community and that Hartman does “have a heart for” the featured organizations.
“I feel this is a wonderful event for the community,” the chief said in an emailed statement. “This event not only brings people of all faiths and walks of life together for fellowship, but also shows community support and provides information about several of the great organizations that we have available in our community and all of the ways they help people in need.”
Jim Peters is part of the advisory council for Salvation Army of Hancock County. He helped put Ballenger in touch with council chairman Jill Null and people with several other organizations. Peters said non-profit leaders are eager to share stories about the impact they have on people in the community. He’s hoping those who attend will be inspired to volunteer.
“I’m hoping that the community can get a sense of how the groups are working together, to coordinate what’s done,” Peters said.
Ballenger said Evangel has tried to increase its own service in the community, such as offering its building as one of the Salvation Army warming centers on frigid nights. People of the church also started walking neighborhoods in the warmer months, praying for the people who lived there. Eventually curious residents asked about what they were doing and began sharing prayer requests with the walkers. One woman said she was waiting for them when they passed by her house. Someone else told Ballenger they’d shown up for church because they’d seen the prayer walkers.
“This whole concept of going out there when we’ve been told for over a year to stay away from people … (is) really a foreign concept,” Ballenger said.
He said this year’s Greenfield United event has a “God, Country, Community” theme. He said it’s about putting God first; about coming together in unity for a non-partisan patriotic parade, even as people around the country feel anger and argue about vaccinations, masks and other issues; and highlighting organizations serving the community.
Through last year’s event, Ballenger came to know Park Chapel Christian Church pastor David Barnett, who is one of the speakers for this year’s event. He said Barnett reached out during 2020 and asked how Evangel was navigating the pandemic. That in-this-together feel meant a lot to Ballenger. Between last year’s event and this one, pastors of several local churches have been involved.
“I think what’s important is that we don’t see each other as competitors,” Ballenger said, “but as one Church … with different locations.”
