MOVING FORWARD FROM TRAGEDY

LIMA - More than a week removed from the Jan. 4 shooting death of
Tarika Wilson, hundreds of Lima residents came together in a symbol of
strength and unity to find a way to move forward together as a community.

On Sunday evening, Philippian Missionary Baptist Church held a healing
service for Wilson's family and the Lima community. A police officer
shot and killed Wilson, 26, during a raid at her home. Her
13-month-old son was also shot during the raid but survived.

The church's pastor, the Rev. Dr. B. LaMont Monford Sr., said a
healing service like this was necessary at a time when tensions in the
community were so high.

"This service was done to bring people together in an ecumenical
worship where there is a need of prayer and healing and just to have a
sign of unity that crosses racial, denominational and cultural lines,"
Monford said.

The service did not begin until 6 p.m., but a steady stream of people
flowed into the church more than a half-hour before it began. By the
time the service began, the church's pews were filled from wall to
wall.

The evening began with singing from all those in the congregation
along with interpretive dancing by members of the church. From there,
pastors from all around the community took to the lectern, quoting
Scriptures from the Bible and asking those in attendance to find ways
to unite and bring hope to Lima. Monford asked the audience to provide
a positive example for the rest of the nation.

"This little small city in northwest Ohio will have a beacon of light
that illuminates from within the midst of the darkness of our country
and let the world know that when the people of God stand up and come
together, there is nothing that we cannot do," Monford said to
thunderous applause.

Monford encouraged those in the crowd to not let racial differences
cloud their opinions of the tragedy, citing the fact that Wilson was a
biracial woman and that the "two different communities need to come
together and make a difference."

The conclusion of the service was met with a near-deafening cheer and
dozens of people turned and hugged those whom they had just met that
evening.

As she walked out into the freezing cold at the end of the service,
17-year-old Dwayonna Brown said it was time for the city of Lima to
make a change.

"We all need to be united regardless of our race, religion or beliefs.
We're all living in this same community; we all need to be together,"
she said.

Dwayonna, a pupil at Lima Senior High School, said while what happened
during the raid was terrible, the community needs to embrace the
positives that come from it.

"I'm so sorry this tragedy happened but it has really brought this
community together and we should take it and run with it and hopefully
we can all unite for the good of Lima," she said.