Shelby Baptist Association hosted its fourth annual Families on Mission (FOM) event July 7–11. This ministry outreach program encourages families, from grandparents to kindergarten-age children, to minister together through a variety of activities and projects.
This year the program’s focus was on reaching community children through backyard Bible clubs, which are condensed versions of Vacation Bible School. There was also some light construction work completed.
The event was divided into four sites: University Mobile Home Park in Montevallo, Sunshine Farm Day Camp in Sterrett, Shelby Association Ministry Center in Columbiana and Belle Vista Trailer Park in Pelham.
Through these sites, 325 volunteers from churches across Shelby Association were able to minister to 177 children and 10 adults.
The week began July 7 with prayer walking and passing out flyers for the two mobile home sites. All the volunteers united that evening at North Shelby Baptist Church, Birmingham, to fellowship through a meal and worship service.
The next day volunteers worshiped at the individual sites’ host churches and had orientation so they could “hit the ground running” July 9, FOM coordinator Debbie Snyder said.
North Shelby Baptist hosted FOM for evening meals and collective worship services July 9–11.
The event was a complete success, Snyder said, despite the rainy conditions that forced volunteers to adapt to new plans.
“I highly admire and am utterly grateful for the volunteers,” Snyder said. “I’ve always loved doing this. It’s a lot of work, but the joy definitely outweighs the work.”
The week concluded at North Shelby Baptist with a service thanking the volunteers for all their work. The service included a sermon from North Shelby Baptist Pastor Allan Murphy and was followed by an ice cream social. Each family that participated was presented a towel embroidered with the phrase “Serving Christ Together.”
Shelby Association will host a similar event next year under the name Family Mission Adventures.
For more information, contact Debbie Snyder at 205-669-7858 or email debbie@shelbybaptist.org.
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