A church congregation that meets in a Providence, Rhode Island park is
seeking permission to continue to meet there, despite the city’s demand
to meet elsewhere.
Providence Journal
reports that the Church Beyond the Walls gathers at Burnside Park every
Saturday for an hour and a half. The congregation is a mismatched
group, including homeless people and addicts.
Recently, the parks department superintendent Wendy Nilsson told the
Church Beyond the Walls that they needed to meet else, as a Providence
city ordinance states religious gatherings are banned in public parks
and they did not have a permit.
The Church Beyond the Walls is now pleading with the city to stay.
Rev. Linda Forsberg said, “We are one of the few things in their lives
that they can count on. They appreciate us just showing up week after
week after week at 2. They know we will be there to gather and offer a
word of support and spiritual strength and really be a community there
within the park.”
Attendee Michelle St. Pierre has been attending the Church Beyond the Walls services for three years.
“I’ve been through a lot of trials and tribulations with my family, my
family passing away. The church actually comforted me. Something about
them — they fill your heart with so much love it's not even funny. I
don’t want to see them leave,” she said.
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