The Vineyard Church in Charleston will be hosting a free, family-friendly Unity Rally on Saturday from 5-8 p.m. at Kiwanis Park.

After the tragedies in Orlando, Minnesota, Baton Rouge and Dallas, the original focus of the fun community event has taken on a somber tone as recent events have made the division of the nation more evident, according to Danelle Jackson, Outreach Director at the Vineyard Church and organizer for the event.

“Our music will also include a time for a candlelight vigil for all those who have lost their lives amidst hate – specifically those over the past month from the mass shooting in Orlando to the shootings of last week and with the officers in Dallas,” she said. “No life is without value, and we want to give a time to reflect on that and encourage love over hate.”

At 7 p.m., guest speaker Clay Harrington, the Evangelism Pastor at the Vineyard Church in Urbana, will be speaking a message on how an understanding of one’s identity in Christ can empower those to change the world, according to a press release.

There will be bounce houses, and face painting as well as popsicles, candy and water. A prayer and coffee tent will also be open during the event.

“Our nation is in a broken state, our fabric keeps getting Band-Aids but the underlying wounds keep getting deeper and deeper,” Jackson said.

For more information, visit their Facebook event page.

Jason Howell can be reached at 581-2812 or at jlhowell3@eiu.edu