By Greg Heyman
Linda Lott wasn’t hesitant to express gratitude for a one-day missions effort of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Baptist Association, that benefited her and other residents of Lovelady Center.
“It makes me feel happy. It makes my heart happy, very happy,” Lott said.
Lovelady Center was one of six locations where more than 750 Dawson members ministered to hundreds of people throughout Birmingham Dec. 7. The day of ministry, called Serving Him in Neighborhoods Everywhere (SHINE), offered free food, music, activities, health services and information about the church.
Dawson’s Senior Pastor Gary Fenton said SHINE was the largest one-day missions effort in the church’s history.
Lott and other residents of Birmingham’s Lovelady Center — a faith-based program for women who are former prisoners or victims of domestic violence, among others — participated in worship services, enjoyed refreshments, had photographs made with their families, got the opportunity to speak with physicians and pharmacists and received hand lotion.
The ministry commitment of the Dawson volunteers was encouraging to Lott.
“It’s amazing to see how many come together for God and Jesus to help other people. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Lott said.
Ben Hale, Dawson’s minister of evangelism and missions, said SHINE was envisioned as a means of meeting needs in the Birmingham community and providing Dawson members an opportunity to serve outside the church walls.
“We talk a lot about service in our church and we talk a lot about missions. But until somebody participates, they don’t really understand the impact that it can have on their lives personally, but also on the lives of other people. There’s no better way to learn than to participate in it,” Hale said.
At another SHINE location — Overlook Apartments in Homewood — excitement was in the air as children played on an inflatable slide, got to decorate cookies and made Christmas ornaments. Dawson’s Hispanic praise band provided music and church members served free hot dogs and helped with children’s games.
Dawson members also distributed packets of information about the church’s Hispanic ministry and English-as-a-second-language classes.
Byron Mosquera, Dawson’s Hispanic pastor, said Hispanics living in Overlook and nearby apartments are a group the church is hoping to reach.
Dawson member Charlie Douthit said 140 volunteers from the church helped with the effort at Overlook and were prepared to feed 700 people.
“We’re here sharing the love of Christ and that’s the main objective,” Douthit said.
Along with serving residents at Overlook Apartments and Lovelady Center, members of Dawson ministered at four other locations:
M-Power Ministries, Fourth Avenue South, Birmingham — Church members helped distribute Christmas gifts to more than 50 families who have participated in M-Power’s financial management seminar. Volunteers also led worship and provided children’s activities.
Linn Park, downtown Birmingham — Church members fed homeless individuals and families and provided hygiene kits with such items as toothbrushes, deodorant, soap and bandages. A praise team from Dawson led music for the event, which included a time of worship.
Restoration Academy, a Christian school in Fairfield — An outdoor block party included food, games and choir performances.
Cahaba Heights Baptist Church, Vestavia, in Birmingham Association — Members of Cahaba Heights and Dawson teamed up for an outreach that featured food and children’s activities. The event concluded with a candlelight service led by Dawson’s chapel and hand bell choirs.
In addition, some Dawson members were at their church to sew dresses and other clothing that will be distributed in Ecuador and Peru by the church’s missions teams. At the same time, other members counted, packed and labeled vitamins that medical teams will use during the church’s missions trips.
And a third group of volunteers stayed at the church to care for children of Dawson members who were participating in SHINE.
The day of ministry concluded at Dawson with a chili dinner for volunteers and a video presentation recapping the work at all the sites.
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