The Longest Walk 2 began on February 11, 2008, with plans to complete the 3,600 miles by July 11, 2008. As they passed through communities on their journey from the USA’s west coast to Washington, D.C., the walkers connected with the people they encountered by listening to their concerns and lending a helping hand. They walk behind the banner, “All Life Is Sacred,” which is a call for action for all peoples.

As participants journeyed through the Independence, Missouri, area, some of our local Community of Christ members and friends provided hospitality for the walk’s participants.

The Longest Walk 2 in 2008 is in part a remembrance of the Longest Walk of 1978, and as with that walk, its leadership is derived from Native American people, Native elders, and spiritual leaders from other nations. The 1978 effort was to help block a congressional attempt to annihilate treaties that protect Indian sovereignty, and to help bolster the passage of the 1978 American Indian Religious Freedom Act. And while Native American rights and concerns are also part of the focus of this year’s event, the primary purpose of the Longest Walk 2 is to bring a heightened awareness to the environmental issues facing the world today.

While the walkers were in Independence, we shared in a time of worship at the Tree of Peace, on the northeast lawn of the Temple. Community of Christ members, Native American Ministries folks and people from other faith communities, a number of local Native American friends, and several representatives from the Longest Walk volunteers gathered in a circle around the tree to share in prayer and song. We also shared Section 163 with the walkers, particularly verse 4b, which expresses our concerns as a faith community for the welfare of the environment, which we all share.

—Keith Russell, Native American Ministries specialist;
Penny Springer and Linda McDaniel,
Longest Walk host coordinators, reporting