Arkansas
Park Hill Baptist Church in North Little Rock has formed a new Women on Mission group. Women on Mission is a missions group under the umbrella of Woman’s Missionary Union designed to equip adult women to become active disciples through missions projects, ministries, prayer, giving and Bible study.
The new group, “Plarn & Prayer Group,” meets monthly to make plastic mats for children in the local school district who do not have permanent homes and to pray for the students, families, teachers and staff. Plarn, a combination of the words plastic and yarn, is when women cut plastic shopping bags into strips then others loop and tie them together to form a ball. They used the balls of plarn to crochet eight mats to provide a barrier separating the ground from a blanket or sleeping bag for the North Little Rock School District liaison for homeless students. According to the liaison, in 2020 approximately 700 students in the entire district were classified as homeless. Click here to read more of this story.
Florida
As pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church since 2007, Jess Burton has sought ways to impact his community with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is especially dedicated to making a difference in the lives of young students in Citrus County’s local schools through a Good News Club, sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship.
“For many children, this is the only church in their lives,” Burton said.
At age 70, he has been volunteering with the club at Romeo Elementary in nearby Dunnellon for the past decade. Good News Clubs are an after-school program held weekly at elementary schools. From 90 minutes to 2 hours, the program includes a Bible story and a variety of activities with an evangelistic focus, including prayer time and singing. The organization is seeking more church sponsors to help find volunteers for additional clubs.
“We have schools across the state who would like to have a Good News Club. The biggest challenge is finding a church to sponsor it,” Burton said. “Our schools are inviting Good News Clubs … back into our schools. We just need to recruit more churches to take up these opportunities.” Click here to read more of this story.
Georgia/Kentucky
Churches in north Georgia knew children in Kentucky communities leveled by tornadoes in December needed new bikes and toys to lift their spirits. In an inspiring show of generosity, Georgia churches and others donated more than $80,000 for 230 children after Pastor Jamie Callaway of Faith Baptist Church in Bowman posted a call for donations on Facebook. Children under 14 received the bikes. Older teens received gift cards to purchase what they wanted.
“To see the Lord work all this out was just absolutely amazing. It was something,” Callaway said. “Our community, through churches, individuals and businesses, came through in an unbelievable way.” To read more, click here.
Kentucky
Pastor Jamie Masso and his wife, Ana, have been the rock in the Mayfield Hispanic community since deadly tornadoes swept through Kentucky in December. Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana has become a shelter and a food pantry, a place where the Hispanic community can find what they need.
“We are open for that one person who is needing something,” he said. “From facilitating a haircut, providing food, to fixing a car, we at Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana try to help people in so many ways, even after hours.”
The couple’s day typically starts around 7:30. It’s 12 hours or more before the work is done due to a day filled with serving others, including feeding the community lunch and dinner.
“Me, my wife and people from the church are 100% (for the people),” he said. “If it was not by God’s strength and people stepping up, we couldn’t do what we have been doing.” Click here to read more.
Louisiana
More than 100 members of First Baptist Church Zachary recently celebrated “Geaux Sunday” with four baptisms followed by intentional community outreach.
Four teams planted gospel seeds in homes neighboring the church.
The first team delivered 100 bags that included a coffee shop gift card and an invitation to attend upcoming church events. Another reconnected with 50 families who had not attended the church in 12 months. The third team wrote encouraging cards that were mailed to individuals in Zachary, and the final team prayed for the effort that took place.
Before venturing into the community, the church observed the Lord’s Supper.
Jake Roudkovski, interim pastor and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary professor, said the day was fruitful because members stepped outside the four walls of the church and shared the love of Christ with their neighbors.
“God favored our efforts when we intentionally decided to go to the community,” Roudkovski said. “Going is part of the Great Commission. When we go, good things happen in the church and in our lives.” To read more, click here.
Mississippi
A federal court has approved a consent decree allowing developers to construct the first Islamic mosque in the city of Horn Lake in DeSoto County, Mississippi, over the initial objections of local officials, according to The Baptist Record.
Although noise and traffic were cited in local officials’ opposition to mosque construction, mosque developers alleged anti-Muslim discrimination played a prominent role in the city’s initial denial of the permits necessary to proceed with construction.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi issued a Jan. 4 press release that stated, “Horn Lake officials must approve the mosque’s site plan, which they previously rejected, and act quickly in the future to address any other permitting and building-related matters.”
The Horn Lake mosque will be the northernmost of 20 mosques in the state. Click here to read more.
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