Decatur church finds local missions field in helping area churches with ministries

Shoal Creek Baptist Church in Decatur has answered the Acts 1:8 commission to be witnesses in its own “Jerusalem” by sending missionaries to smaller, struggling churches in its own community.  
   
The process is simple.  Whether the need is conducting Vacation Bible School or promoting revival services, the membership of Shoal Creek provides workers, leadership or other resources to churches that need assistance. 
   
Dennis Vinson, evangelism and outreach director for the Morgan Association church, said his heart for outreach coupled with the knowledge that several smaller churches in their area ­needed help led him to approach his pastor, Harold Fanning, for a solution.
   
Fanning agreed the church had a missions field that was literally at its own back door.  
   
Both men say this is an opportunity to aid smaller churches that may not have the staff or resources to do the ministries needed to grow their congregations. “It’s not about Shoal Creek,” Fanning said. “It’s about strengthening our community and our area churches.”
   
Leon Dawson, pastor of Chapel Baptist Church in Decatur, said he is “well pleased” with the help his church received from Shoal Creek last March. 
   
With only seven members of Shoal Creek, it was difficult to staff a Vacation Bible School in an effort to reach families in the church’s diverse neighborhood.  
   
Joyce Durham, Shoal Creek member, met Dawson during an associational meeting and after hearing of his shortage of workers, offered to handle all the arrangements. 
   
As a result, Chapel Baptist Church welcomed approximately 28 children to its Vacation Bible School. 
   
Dawson said there are many needs for churches like his, located in areas where the population is either transient or Hispanic. There just simply aren’t enough trained leaders, he explained. 
   
Dawson hopes he can continue to “borrow” trained leaders until Chapel Church grows enough to train its own. Shoal Creek plans to help with Vacation Bible School at Chapel Baptist again this year.
   
Northside Baptist Church in Huntsville is looking forward to Shoal Creek’s assistance in April in promoting their upcoming revival. 
   
Tom Oakley, pastor of Northside, said, “This is the best ministry I’ve seen in a long time.” 
   
Oakley believes that churches should minister to their church family first, then their community, state and ultimately, the world. He hopes more churches with ample resources and leaders will see the missions opportunities awaiting them locally.
   
Al Phillips, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Lacey’s Springs, agreed.  
   
“I’m not discounting the impact of our international missions,” said Phillips. “I just wish able churches would consider the need for a hand here at home too.”  Phillips is thankful Shoal Creek came alongside and helped during the planning and promotion for an upcoming revival at Bethlehem.  
   
Shoal Creek’s Vinson, along with other volunteers, did a drive-through survey of the surrounding community and evolved a plan for canvassing the neighborhood with fliers. 
   
Phillips looks forward to the time when Bethlehem can return the favor by ministering to another local church with similar needs.
   
As the population in Alabama continues to grow and change, new prospects come with it. Shoal Creek members see this change as an opportunity to fulfill its New Testament calling by reaching its “Jerusalem” and defending the smaller local churches in their ministry efforts.