NATCHEZ — On Sept. 11, First Baptist Church Natchez and Zion Chapel African Methodist Episcopal invites the community to celebrate faith and freedom.

More importantly, they invite the community to focus on unity.

At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, First Baptist Church will host a combined worship service called “Faith and Freedom.”

The Rev. Doug Broome, pastor at First Baptist Church, said the event is one way the churches are trying to promote unity in the community.

“Natchez is a very diverse place and yet we have had so much division in our community,” Broome said. “We are trying to bring people together.”

Broome said Zion Chapel AME has been gracious enough to invite him to come to their church to preach on a couple of occasions.

“So I thought it would be great to invite them to come tour church,” Broome said.

Wednesday night’s worship service, Broome said will be a special event filled with music and message from Zion Chapel AME pastor the Rev. Birdon Mitchell.

“If the churches can come together, the community will come together,” Mitchell said, adding he is happy to be able to share a message at the service, and the two churches’ choirs have been practicing for a special musical program.

“We will use some of their instrumentalists and some of our musicians,” Broom said.

Broome said the service isn’t just an event for First Baptist Church and Zion Chapel AME members.

“We want to invite the whole community to come be a part of the service,” Broome said.

Broome said as president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention in 2016 and 2017, he tried to speak to other churches about the importance of having church that reflects the community. Broome said he hopes Wednesday’s worship service is one way of helping bring the community together.

“Our ability to come together will be a huge factor as to what happens to our city in the future,” Broome said.