Church gathers for service to pray during time of war

Approximately 40 people, many of them members of the church, came to the service, where they sang hymns, read scripture from the Bible and said prayers for the military troops fighting overseas and their families.

"We held this service as a response to the situation and also because people asked us to," David Cartwright said before the service began.

Many of those who chose to pray aloud thanked God for the freedom to worship freely and asked God to watch over the United States' leaders, troops and citizens.

Cartwright began the time of prayer by asking God to grant peace. He said no one ever wants war, but he trusts the outcome of the war will be better for the people of Iraq.

"It is a very difficult time," said Cartwright. "I wish we didn't have to go to war, but if we are going to, I am behind the president and the troops. We were looking for a peaceful solution, but many times that isn't an option."

Jerry Gill, former professor of military science and longtime member of Hazelwood, agreed with Cartwright. He said it is unfortunate that the country is going to war but says there may have been no other choice.

"We have found through history that sometimes the only way to preserve peace is war," Gill said.

His son, Tony Gill, added that often the military trains for war so the soldiers are prepared, but it does so as a way to prevent wars, not start them. Tony is a member of the Indiana National Guard, and Jerry is a war veteran.