One initiative is offering many opportunities around the state to help others, including locally.
Under the Baptist Sate Convention of North Carolina, about 1,143 churches statewide have pledged to participate in ServeNC stretching from two Saturdays, Aug. 3-10. The initiative calls on churches to complete different service projects in their communities.
The service projects range from filling food pantries to holding free yard sales to building wheelchair ramps to handling back-to-school distributions. Local churches have jumped on board to participate in helping others as well.
Noah Crowe, pastor of Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church, is also associational coordinator for ServeNC with the Truett Baptist Association. Crowe is proud to participate in the initiative by offering at least three projects in the community, even getting an early start.
On July 30, folks were scheduled to paint areas of the Peachtree Community Center. Today, children will be packing boxed lunches for the Hurlburt-Johnson Friendship House homeless shelter in Murphy, as well as painting bird houses for Murphy Rehab & Nursing residents.
Peachtree Memorial Baptist will also be holding a Car Care Service Day from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 3 and Aug. 10. Folks can drive to the church campus and have their tires, windshield wipers, oil and fluids checked – not for state inspection, but to help motorists with commonly overlooked tasks.
“As the pastor of a local church, our goal is to be a good representative of Jesus. The best way we can do that is to serve others like he did,” Crowe said.
Al Hood is director of missions with the Truett Baptist Church Association, is pleased with the ServeNC Initiative.
“I will be working with two or three churches in our area helping with school spruce up and cleaning at Peachtree (Elementary School) and Murphy High School. I am excited to see what God is going to do through this effort our churches are making to get out into the community more,” he said.
Hood will also be helping with kids groups in nursing homes and laundromats.
Pastor Toby Roehm of Marble Springs Baptist Church said one of their projects is to do landscaping and beautification at Andrews Elementary School on Aug. 10. And Ranger Baptist Church will have a pre-back to school free clothing drive Aug. 3 and Aug. 10.
Pastor Gerald Derreberry of Shady Grove Baptist Church in Murphy is happy to have his congregation participating in ServeNC.
“It’s an opportunity for the church in a concerted effort to get out into our communities and not only share the gospel and the good news of Christ, but to demonstrate that good news. To be the hands and feet of Jesus,” he said.
Church members plan on putting together care packages for the homeless shelter, handing out school supply bundles and giving Bibles to anyone wanting one.
A church does not need to be recognized as Baptist in order to serve under the program. Other congregations have joined in to bring the love of Jesus.
Details: Visit servenc.com.