Hands-on missions opportunities continue in full swing this summer as Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) volunteers traveled to Pittsburgh, Pa., for MissionsFEST June 20–26 and FamilyFEST June 23–26.
Approximately 165 volunteers, including 27 families, joined together from 12 states to help with backyard Bible clubs, surveys, block parties, light construction, landscaping, repairs, prayer walking, and to prepare food at a children’s camp.
Some volunteers even had the experience of planting and picking vegetables on an eight-acre food farm for the Pittsburgh Food Bank.
The volunteers helped at several ministry sites, of which there were 15 sites.
Bruce and Melanie Ward, along with sons Evan, 14, Forrest, 12, and 5-year-old daughter, Madeline, flew from Prattville to participate in their second FamilyFEST.
Following a great experience at FamilyFEST in San Antonio in 2003, the Wards were eager to serve again as a family.
“We feel it’s very important to teach our children about missions, about giving their lives to serve others and to serve our Lord,” said Melanie Ward. “There’s no better way to do that than to model missions to them, to show them by example how to minister to others and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. We are just carrying out what the Lord has asked us to do.”
The Wards helped to lead music and crafts and presented Bible stories and the plan of salvation to approximately 15 children at three Backyard Bible clubs at the home of a member of Lakeside Baptist Church in McMurray, Pa.
Their son, Evan, also brought his puppet ministry on the road to relate to the children.
“When I see my kids painting pots with other kids, or having kids sit in their laps while Bruce and I read Bible stories, I am reminded that missions work is the greatest thing in the whole world I could do with my kids,” said Ward.
“It’s more important than soccer practice or choir practice. That’s what I need to be doing,” she said.
“Children need to see their mom and dad setting an example of helping and serving others. As parents, that’s what we are here for — to teach our children to live out their purpose in life, to love others and see others through Christ’s eyes.” Ward continued, “This is the legacy we want to pass along.”
The Wards also spent several afternoons helping to prepare for Vacation Bible School at Lakeside, where Larry and Melanie Hart, Mission Service Corps volunteers with the North American Mission Board (NAMB), are members. Larry serves as associate pastor.
Melanie Hart said it was very exciting and encouraging to see how God used volunteers in Pittsburgh throughout the week.
“We have had ongoing outreach efforts and prayer walking in this area for years, but until this weekend, there seemed to be little progress,” said Hart. “MissionsFEST and FamilyFEST have been incredible.”
Millions unchurched
She added that this opportunity also helped increase awareness of “how challenging it is to reach people for Christ up here.”
Indeed, both the need and the opportunities are great in Pittsburgh.
According to Lamar Duke, director of missions of the Baptist Association of Southwestern Pennsylvania, there are 3 million people in the association, which covers nine counties.
An estimated 2 million of those are unchurched, and many who are affiliated with a church do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
“MissionsFEST and FamilyFEST were a real encouragement to many churches in our area because it was the first time they had volunteers, especially out-of-state volunteers,” related Carla Lahey, a USC-2 volunteer with NAMB who works with Duke in the association.
“Several of these churches, like Zion Hills Full Gospel Church, which was one of the ministry sites, are just recently affiliated with Southern Baptists and were shocked that people would actually come to help them.”
For adult volunteers 18 and older, registration is still open for the last MissionsFEST 2004 in New England, where participants may choose to serve either Oct. 3–10 or Oct. 6–10.
MissionsFEST sites in 2005 include
- New York, New York, April 9–16.
- Salt Lake City, Utah, July 9–16.
- The North Carolina Triad, July 16–22.
- The Appalachia area, specifically western
Maryland, Clarksburg, West Virginia
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