The Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront celebrated Clergy Appreciation Month for the third year in a row on Oct. 13 with a Pastor Appreciation and Community Leaders Brunch.

The ballroom was filled with pastors and others from around Suffolk as they enjoyed brunch, worship and guest speaker Pastor Sylvester Battle Jr. of Word, Spirit and Life Ministries in Chesterfield.

“October is Clergy Appreciation Month, and we want the community leaders to come together because they can do more together,” said Lisa Burrell, sales manager at Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront. “Everyone has many visions, and I want to bring them here so that they can come together and have this larger vision.”

The D.O.V.E.S. performed a musical selection for the crowd before praise dancers from Higher Way Suffolk took over the stage.

Burrell was pleased with the turnout, and she believed that the churches were already making progress as a community.

“It has grown so much, we have 20 sponsors already and people are making great connections. It’s already working so well,” Burrell said. “A few of the same people have come, but we also had a lot of new people attend.”

Burrell has plans to continue the brunch every year, and she hopes that the event can continue to grow in the community.

“I hope in the future we are filled to capacity. I hope one day that we can have testimonies of the community working together because of this event,” Burrell said.