Special to Iredell Free News

God’s Mighty Men, a men’s group from approximately 10 churches in Iredell County that meets weekly at Horizon Church, will host Statesville Police Chief David W. Addison and Crime Prevention Officer Chan Austin on Saturday, July 11.

During the visit, which begins at 9 a.m., Addison and Austin will address race relations and other topics. After their presentation, there will be a time of prayer, along with a Q&A Session.

Horizon Church is located at 316 Signal Hill Drive in Statesville. The event is free and area pastors and men’s groups are invited to attend.

Addison, a law enforcement professional with over 20 years of experience, was hired as police chief in February 2019. Last year, he began hosting monthly community meetings to encourage open communication between the police department and the Statesville community.

As crime prevention officer, Austin focuses on organizing and managing community involvement programs such as Neighborhood Watch and the SPD Citizen’s Police Academy, which help reduce crime while providing valuable volunteer resources to assist law enforcement. He also reaches out to local schools, churches and organizations and provides safety presentations to educate citizens of all ages.

Horizon Church Co-Pastor Jason Bost will moderate the discussion.

“We are eager to learn what our local churches can do to help alleviate tension between the races,” Bost said. “Regardless of our race, we must all find a way to work together for the good of our community, and working with law enforcement is a great place to start.”

About Horizon Church

Horizon Church is a non-denominational church located at 316 Signal Hill Drive in Statesville. Worship times are Sundays at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Services are casual with contemporary music, and messages relevant to everyday living. Charles Williams is the founding pastor of the church, which was founded in 1999. Learn more at www.horizonchurch.net.