MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Friday officially kicks off National Faith and Blue Weekend, but the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office started a day early.

The department kicked off the weekend earlier this weekend with its annual Faith and Blue prayer service

National Faith and Blue Weekend aims to facilitate safer and stronger communities by engaging law enforcement officers and the community. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office celebrates every year.

“The houses of worship and us in law enforcement come together and we pray, we fellowship,” Montgomery County Sheriff, Derrick Cunningham, said.

Faith leaders prayed for victims of crime, and for unity and healing in the River Region.

“I’ve discovered that you cannot have community without unity,” Billy Irvin, Faith Radio Director of Ministry Relations and one of the speakers at the event, said. “You really can’t properly serve a community without unity, and so, I’m going to be talking about that and praying about that in our time tonight to lift up and pray for our first responders as we focus upon the Montgomery County Sheriff’s department.”

The sheriff’s office and these faith leaders say they’re working toward the same goal: to protect you.

“We know we’re the pillar to the community,” Cunningham said. “We’ve got us, and then we’ve got our houses of worship. On just about every corner, there’s a church.”

Irvin agrees.

“First responders are who we all call when we have a crisis,” he said. “There’s also a spiritual aspect of that, and so, not only do they run in and take care of the physical needs, but many times, we come in and take care of the spiritual needs. So, we’re working together on unifying our community, letting each other know how much we appreciate each other and need each other.”

Sheriff Cunningham has one thing he wants all community members to know.

“We support you,” he said. “We love you.”

Bridging the gap between faith, community, and first responders.

If you missed tonight’s Faith and Blue event but you would like to participate this weekend, the Montgomery Police Department will be holding a tailgate on Saturday at Engaged Christian Church in Montgomery.

Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!