The mayor’s annual Thanksgiving service came to Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday evening, and Hinesville Mayor and church member Karl Riles had a message for the audience.

It’s time to go on offense.

Riles, in his first year as mayor, said he saw an article online that listed the 20 worst towns in Georgia.

Hinesville was among those listed. The article derided Hinesville as a military town, and Riles adamantly noted that Fort Stewart has a $6 billion impact on the local economy.

“As long as we allow people to tell and frame our story, that’s what we’re going to get. We have to go on offense,” he said. “We’ve got to tell our story that we will do great things.”

The annual service, which started 22 years ago as then Mayor Tom Ratcliffe brought the political and ecumenical worlds together. Sunday’s theme was “Stronger Foundations,” and Riles pointed to the foundations for him in Hinesville.

“We are all in this together and the theme of stronger foundations could not be more fitting,” he said.

Riles said he and other leaders visit other communities across the state but they find that the relationships among leaders — and especially between the civilian community and the military — are unlike any other and unmatched.

“We do it better here than they do it anywhere else,” he said. “Stronger foundations, relationships, open dialogue is how we do that.”

Local pastors prayed on various topics before an elected leader spoke on each of those. Liberty County Commission Chairman Donald Lovette said the community is one he loves and to which he has dedicated most of his adult life.

Lovette noted that Liberty County was not named for a person or a group but rather for an ideal and is one of the few counties in Georgia not to bear the name of a person or group.

“We are for the cause of freedom,” he said. “We have been gifted the opportunity to build on a strong foundation,” he said. For whom much is given, much is required.”

Lt. Col. Dan Urquhart, the 3rd Infantry Division chaplain, also accentuated how different the community is from others.

“My wife said, ‘are you going to a political banquet?’ I said, ‘you don’t know Hinesville. I’m going to church,’” he quipped.

He also pointed to the number of retirees in the area as how this area becomes home for so many who have lived a number of different places. More than 14,000 soldiers are stationed at Fort Stewart and many of them are young, between 18 and 25 years old, Lt. Col. Urquhart said.

“They have an opportunity to be formed and shaped by your example and your impact,” he said. “You have the opportunity to invest in young people’s lives.”

Fort Stewart garrison commander Col. Marc Austin said he asked for duty at Fort Stewart. He didn’t know much about the area when he was stationed here the first time, but it made an impression on him, he acknowledged.

“I’ve served in many places in my Army career, but I cannot think of a better place to call home than here,” he said. “I requested to come back and I have not been letdown.”

As the holiday season approaches, Col. Austin also reminded the audience that one of the 3rd ID’s two brigades will be overseas by the end of January for a deployment of several months.

“The strength of our nation lies in our army, the strength of our army lies in its soldiers and the strength of our soldiers lies in the families,” he said. “Caring for our families is not just a privilege it is a solemn responsibility. The steadfast support, resilience and sacrifice of our military families cannot be overstated. They serve along our soldiers.”

Col. Austin said the foundation of the community’s support doesn’t stop and start at the gates to the installations but carries on throughout the area.

“The army continues to ask a lot of our soldiers and families and we give thanks for supporting our soldiers and all that they endure,” he said. “Our families feel safe and well cared for here. Their families are in good hands here, on and off the installation.”

State Rep. Al Williams said the military does not need fixing.

“That’s like saying you need to fix the Mona Lisa,” he added.

Williams said America always has been a welcoming country, and he hoped the spirit that unified the nation in the days after 9/11 can be found again.

“This country is great because of its diversity,” he said. “We’re torn asunder right now. But I do know this about this country — we’ll live through this and we will come back together. That’s where our greatness lies.”

Williams declared America has always been great and its greatness springs from its people.

“We can improve upon it, but its greatness speaks for itself,” he said. “Its greatness lies in it people, those people who rose above the norm to do great things. This country is great because of its inclusion.

“Where else in the history of the world has a document been penned guaranteeing some things that did not include folks who look like me but they left it to be amended. And because of the greatness of this country that sacred piece of paper called the Constitution has been amended many times to close some gaps that were in it. Children should not be denied the opportunity to know what a great country we have but they need to know the whole story.”

Williams also encouraged embracing the First Amendment and the right to free speech, even speech someone might not agree with and extolled the promise of America.

“Where else can you be born and rise to any height that your capabilities will take you?” he asked. “In other countries, you have to be born with the right bloodline or having gone to the right schools.”

Rev. Tim Byler of Connections Church also asked for a new approach following a bitter and tumultuous political season.

“The reality is our nation doesn’t have an anger issue — our nation has a contempt issue,” he said. “Contempt divides; it not only chooses sides, it forces you to choose sides. It looks for ways to take you down. Contempt leads to division.”

Mayor Riles said he is often seen as a pessimist in his family, though he calls himself a realist. But he said he was excited this holiday season and not just because of the impending holidays.

“I think we have had enough of the vicious vitriol of politics and this season gives us the opportunity to get back into touch with each other and to care about each other,” he said. “I think that starts right now. Our enemies are not within. Our friends and neighbors are what strengthen us.

“The foundations we lay today will carry our community to a better tomorrow,” the mayor continued. “Together and only together we can carry forward the vision that will continue to make Hinesville a place of lasting pride and of opportunity for everyone. We can do great things and we will do great things and the people expect us to do it.”

The service’s collection was earmarked for the Kiwanis Club, which is building playground equipment for special needs children.

“They are a forgotten part of our community, and we need to make sure that foundation supports that whole family,” said Hinesville Fire Chief Robert Kitchings Jr., the outgoing club president. “We want to make sure there are inclusive playgrounds across our county.”