PRAYING FOR CHANGE

Community members joined hands in the park Saturday to ask for God's guidance. The topic was the explosion of teen crime and violence, and more than 60 community members and church leaders prayed together for positive change. "We stand here, not making excuses … our children are faced with tough things on every side … guns, games, violence, sex and drugs," the Rev. Elliott Bing said. "Let us adults lead by example." The community prayer was organized by Children of Christ under the leadership of Waynesboro resident Ella Jones. She told gatherers how her son died in prison just two nights earlier and said that through God the community could take the bad and turn it into something good. Waynesboro City Councilman Chick Jones said he hopes the gathering will lead to a meeting of like minds and the formation of some grassroots intervention programs.