Mat-Su residents are meeting this Saturday, Feb. 15, In the first of what will be a monthly meeting to educate and mobilize area Christians to engage politics and culture.

Organizer Candy Sunderland said inspiration for the event came on the heels of a past prayer breakfast she attended for Palmer Mayor Edna DeVries in which pastors, politicians and Gov. Mike Dunleavy gathered to pray for elected officials.

“Valley pastors and others asked if we would do something regularly,” Sunderland said. “I’m thrilled with all the groups that are waking people up and information is getting out there.”

The upcoming event, which is called “Government Mountain: Education & Prayer,” will kick off with information on important local and statewide issues affecting government. Then the group will turn to God in prayer.

“My goal is to help the pastors get the information,” Sunderland said. “They are starting to get involved and starting to get their people to vote and pay attention.”

I’m trying to light a little fire and get other little fires going here and there.

The first meeting will include a potluck brunch beginning at 10 a.m. at Real Life Church in Palmer (10697 E Palmer-Wasilla Hwy). Following events will include scheduled speakers who can spark discussions and address cultural, social and political issues.

“It is really to try to stir the church into praying and voting,” Sunderland explained. “I’m trying to light a little fire and get other little fires going here and there. Hopefully there will be some strategies and some agreement on what we can do because we need to have conversations and figure out how to act.”

“It’s open to the public,” Sunderland said, “but we are believers, so we are going to pray.”

For more information, contact Candy Sunderland at candle@mtaonline.net or call (907) 775-1948.

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