Published: December 02, 2008 03:00 pm         

Man on a Mission

Mark Mills passes through county on his prayer walk across Kentucky

WHITLEY CITY — Travelers along KY 92 and US 27 may not have noticed anything special about Mark Mills last Wednesday as he walked along

McCreary County’s highways.

After all, it’s not exactly unusual to see pedestrians taking to the road on foot.

However while most are walking just a short distance, Mills has been on road since September 30 — on a prayer walk which will take him all

around Kentucky.

In every county he has visited, Mills has signaled his arrival by blowing a shofar (traditional Jewish horn) and praying from the courthouse steps. He reached Whitley City last Wednesday and took time out to speak with The Record.

The 49-year-old minister is about halfway through his walk around the state, which began two months ago on the steps of the Franklin County Courthouse and has led him some 600 miles around to Monticello so far.

Though he averages 15-20 miles per day, Mills can travel as little as five depending on the weather. He plans to come full circle after 1,200 miles with a special celebration on the steps of the State Capitol in Frankfort.

But for Mills, the trip is less about distance and more about how we live.

“Life is a journey; you either walk with the Lord or you don’t,” he said.

Mills was drawn to the fact that Kentucky has 120 counties and the number’s Biblical significance such as: Noah took 120 years to build the ark; Moses lived to be 120; 120 ropes held up the Tabernacle of Moses’ outer walls; King Solomon had 120 trumpets at the dedication of the temple; and 120 people gathered in the upper room on the day of the Pentecost.

The shofar, he said, is one way for Christians to return to their Jewish roots.

“The trumpet is God’s weapon of choice,” Mills said. “It brings victory into God’s camps. As we send the voice of God out into the atmosphere, it does not return void but brings back a harvest of souls.”

Mills also wears a prayer shawl which he said is often more recognizable to passersby.

“Jesus was a Jew,” Mills said. “As a Christian, I have been adopted into His family. There are things that God has instituted that we don’t even know today. As Jews are drawn back into Israel, Christians are being drawn back to their Jewish roots.”

Though his parents ensured a religious upbringing, Mills’ spiritual quest began in earnest three years ago when he — a carpenter by trade — was ordained on April 17, 2005, as co-pastor for Chariot of Fire Fellowship in Fleming County.

Though the ministry is open to all, Mills said he has been particularly moved to help those who have been incarcerated and would like to establish halfway houses for men and women coming back into society as reliable citizens.

“There are some out there who really want to change but the felony mark can be like a life sentence,” Mills said. “The system beats them down so much.”

Hence Mills’ prayers from the courthouse steps. He prays that officials to make godly decisions.

“Some politicians believe that gambling is the solution but if that were true, Las Vegas wouldn’t have any problems,” Mills said.

In addition to courthouses, Mills has stopped to pray by the schools and utility offices he has passed. Mills has been accompanied by his father Ivan, who has driven ahead much of the way to scout out routes. While he intended to speak at churches along the way, he has found it difficult to contact ministers who must often work regular jobs in addition to their pastoral duties.

“God has been sending me people from out of state,” Mills said of his travels. “I have met a lot of good people.”

To learn more about the Kentucky Prayer Walk, visit Mills’ blog at www.kyprayerwalk.com.

     

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