LEWISTON – The Salvation Army HALO Teen Center and the Jesus Party Pentecostal Kids’ Church joined to ensure that children in the community are safe and sound.

The two inner city ministries are promoting public awareness of the devastating affects of child abuse. Ministry directors Chris Bennett (HALO) and Douglas Taylor (Jesus Party) are encouraging the faith communities to recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Taylor said, “It is our prayer that religious leaders in the area will empower and encourage people to become more involved in supporting families so that we together can prevent all forms of child abuse and neglect.”

Youth from the ministries gathered for a pizza party and to make blue ribbon pins to be distributed to inner city Sunday school bus ministry outreaches. Gary Brown, 19, offered a prayer for the children who would receive the special ribbons.

Among those receiving ribbons were the Open Door Bible Church of Lisbon, Calvary Baptist Church of Turner, Auburn Baptist Church, United Pentecostal Church of Lewiston and the Assembly of God’s Royal Ranger and Missionettes Program of Lewiston.