There’s been an initiative in Normandy to unite the three prominent churches in town: First Baptist Church, Normandy Presbyterian Church, and the Normandy United Methodist Church.

As many communities across the nation continue to divide themselves in their differences, those in Normandy know that for a small town, unity is much greater and much needed.

“A lot of times what we major in is the little things—the little bitty things that divide us. But we’re not doing that. We’re majoring in things that unite us. And we think that’s the thing that can make a difference in the lives of people,” said Pastor Tom Bagley of the Normandy Presbyterian Church.

The initiative began a couple of Easters ago with the churches coming together to celebrate Holy Week. The Presbyterian church hosted one of the holy days followed by the Methodist. Then the Baptists held a sunrise service.

“I hadn’t been to a sunrise service since I was a kid,” said Pastor Laurie Raulston of the Methodist Church. But, “God knew we needed to hear a message of unity.” She said the churches may have doctrinal differences, but they have way more in common.  

“Well, I think bottom line, God just stirred up these three churches,” said Bagley, who’s been at the church for one year. “And we have a history of working together, but it’s been a long time since we’ve done that.”

Originally from Fayetteville, God called Bagley to a church in Atlanta. He was then called to Chattanooga to begin working with folks outside the church. It’s where he began to appreciate people’s spiritual journeys—and to meet people who were “beaten up” by churches and their well-meaning believers.

“We’re trying to heal that. Some of what’s going on in our churches is we want to be a healing presence for God in this community,” he said.

“My thought is, we don’t want to separate churches,” said Pastor Chris Heath of the Normandy Baptist Church. “We want to be the Church, and join in with what God is doing—just sharing Jesus with the community.” Growing up in the Normandy area, Heath served as interim pastor before becoming the newest pastor at the Baptist church several months ago.

“I just feel like God’s really doing something here,” he said. “I know we’ve been praying for probably ten years, the churches and the community to do things together…”

Both pastors Raulston and Bagley said many of the churchgoers come from outside the Normandy city limits. But many of the residents within the Normandy town do not attend the churches.

“…We felt like we were getting disconnected from people…which we knew there were some needs. It was pretty obvious there were some needs,” said Bagley.

In addition to their church-wide activities, Pastor Raulston said that many of the laypeople conduct prayer walks to talk and meet with the community. They also have a Blessing Box, located in front of the Normandy downtown. The donation box has all kinds of home goods in it. Raulston says she sees somebody using that box almost every day.

“This alliance that is working now among the churches is going to be way more successful than anything we do alone,” she said.

So, finding a time to get together—on the second Friday evening of every month—has proved to be a way the churches have worked toward that goal.

They say every music night looks different every time. All the musicians of the core worship teams know other musicians, so there’s always a new face. But that’s good, as long as we’re showing Jesus, said Pastor Heath.

“I believe there never should have been a division in the body—that’s not how it started off in the Bible…I believe God sent His one and only Son to die on the Cross for the world—no matter white, black, orange, purple—whatever it is. We’re one race and that’s it,” said Pastor Heath.

The next “Friday Night on Front Street” in Normandy will be held July 14 at 6 p.m. It will be a night of food, music, and games. Guests are asked to please bring a lawn chair.