Two of Covington County’s Baptist congregations are praying local students have a good school year. And they’re taking those prayers into the schools.

Sunday evening, members of Andalusia First Baptist Church participated in a prayer walk through the city’s schools, and a similar event is planned in Opp on Wednesday.

FBC’s Dr. Fred Karthaus said about 75 to 100 members of his congregation participated in the prayer walk.

“This was the second year, we’ve done this,” he said. “We had a little guide we went by, but in general we prayed for the students, their homes, for the schools to be safe, for the teachers and the administrators. I actually called the principals and superintendent by name.”

Karthaus said the church met briefy for a 15 to20 minute service before dividing up and going to the schools.

“We believe that prayer is the work of the church,” he said. “And it’s important for us to lift up our teachers and educators in prayer.”

Opp’s Westview Baptist Church plans a similar event tomorrow night, and is inviting the community to join them.

“We have done this for the past five or six years,” said Donna Simmons, children’s minister at Westview. “Some of the area children’s directors got together, and we felt a need to do this.”

On Wednesday, Simmons said, the local community is asked to walk through Opp Elementary, Opp Middle School, Opp High School and Fleeta Jr. High to pray for the upcoming school year.

“Most of the participants do it as a family,” she said. “They will go and lay hands on the door of their children’s classrooms. If they don’t have children, they may do the lunchroom or the administration.”

Simmons said for those who are not physically able to walk the campuses, they are encouraged to drive through the campus.

Each year, Simmons said there are around 300 locals who participate in the prayer walk.

The prayer walk begins at 6 p.m., and Simmons said that Westview, along with other churches in the community, are doing the walk in lieu of regular church services.

“The principals will open the schools for us during that time,” she said. “As well as the bus area.”

“We are going to pray for a good school year,” she said.