Sharon Heights ‘walks the walk of missions’

In order to add or subtract fractions, there must be a common denominator — a number divisible by the bottom part of the fractions.

The members of Sharon Heights Baptist Church, Brookside, have just that — a common denominator. But for them, it’s not a number; it’s a calling and command.

“Everything we do, whether a cook-off, a WMU (Woman’s Missionary Union) meeting, everything has a common denominator of evangelism,” Pastor Jason Dunlap said.

Dunlap, who has served as pastor of the North Jefferson Baptist Association church for 12 years, sees evangelism as an obvious goal for the body of Christ.

“It seems like [Christians] try to make [evangelism] difficult,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be hard. Keep it simple.”

Dunlap said the pulpit is the main promoter of evangelism. “If pastors are not behind [evangelism], no one (in the church) will want to save souls.”

So he makes sure his church members know the mission: “base their whole being” in winning souls for Christ.

They go about that in different ways.

For the most part, the church focuses on its Jerusalem — Brookside. It has specific needs that Gardendale or Fultondale, just 10 miles away, does not have, Dunlap said.

Every week, the church offers Zumba dance-fitness classes and Better Image, a Bible-based weight loss program.

Each year, Sharon Heights Baptist hosts two archery events and a golf tournament. The gospel is always shared at every event.

This year, Sharon Heights will open a food bank and start a recovery/counseling group for people with drug and alcohol addictions.

Steve Loggins, North Jefferson Association director of missions, has seen the church sacrificially give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering every year, but in the last decade, he has seen it “step up and put feet to [its] giving.”

“I am very thankful for [Sharon Heights],” Loggins said. “A lot of people will talk the talk, but [Sharon Heights] walks the walk (of missions).”

Of course, the church reaches to the ends of the earth, too.

The church is involved in missions in Guatemala, where a team has traveled for missions for the last seven years. This year, Sharon Heights plans to be a part of a team of five North American churches that will participate in a church plant in Guatemala.

But it’s not about the frequency, size or location of the events and activities, Dunlap said.

“Evangelism is important because Jesus commanded us to do it,” he said. “In Matthew 28, Jesus told [Christians] to go. So if we go, He’ll bless it.”