They Thought No One Cared...Another Community Outreach!

We love community outreach programs. Nothing thrills us more than to reach out and touch a life of someone who is struggling. Even if it is for only a moment, the smile on their face makes it all worth while. We do make every effort to make the difference last a lot longer. Our latest community outreach project is below.

We were standing in a circle holding hands and waiting to pray, but we could not start the prayer. You see, people were.. Oh. I am getting ahead of myself. Let's start at the beginning.

A few hours earlier the Local Out-Team had gathered in the Community Bible Church parking lot preparing for our first attempt at our Community H.U.G. Cookout. H.U.G. - His Uplifting Grace. At the time we had no idea that His grace was going to be showered upon US.

We had decorated a stake-bed trailer with signs and streamers and loaded with tables, chairs, grills, clothing, and goodies. Food, drinks, deserts and other supplies were loaded in the trunks of cars. School supplies and crafts were also brought along, as well as balloons to decorate the site.

We had been out a few days earlier to pass out circulars announcing the event, but we did not know what to expect. All we knew was we were going to give it our best.

We arrived at the apartments in a loose procession. All of the team members cheerfully chipped in and within fifteen minutes we were set-up and grilling hot dogs and hamburgers.

Absent a live band, CD's containing modern Christian music was placed in car stereos, the music drifting out the open doors and windows.

At first it was a trickle, but within a few minutes the residents of the community were standing in line anxious for what we had to offer.

Some were sorting through the slightly used clothing draped over the rails of the trailer, most everyone finding something that fit. Children and adults alike was modeling their new threads with big smiles for our cameras.

Volunteers were playing football with some of the children and young adults while other kids were tossing the Frisbees or kicking around the soccer ball. Some children were making cross necklaces, asking what the cross was for. Others colored pictures, running across the parking lot in pride to show their parents their creation. Some played with their new toys while others selected from an assortment of school supplies. Several children gathered on a blanket at the edge of the festivities to hear about Jesus from one their own age, assisted by Pastor Jody.

The burgers and dogs went off the grills faster than we could put them on. We couldn't hardly keep up. We were so excited we never considered turning the grills around so the smoke would not blow in the faces of the teary eyed, smoke soaked cooks.

It was a family cookout, just like one you might hold in your back yard, except it was surrounded by ugly. Some residents sat in their cars smoking joints while others purchased beer from the man selling it by the can on the porch of one of the buildings. All were respectful enough of our efforts not to bring their vices into the area where the cookout was held.

We played, we held and we hugged. Residents feeling the tug of the Holy Spirit were prayed over at the prayer table and many received information about both Celebrate Recovery and our church. Eight households out of a total of 40 within the community signed up for the in-community bible study which will begin in a few weeks.

We do not know how many participated, but we served 80 hot dogs and about 100 hamburgers, if that is any indication. We did not force ourselves upon anyone, instead we drew them to us. We shared love.. the love of Christ.
At the end of the event, after the clean-up was complete one of the residents shouted 'Is that it? What about the prayer?' The volunteers gathered in the grass area, holding hands. But before we could start another resident would shout 'Wait for me!' and join our number. Then another, and then another. Within a few minutes we went from about 10 to 72, all standing in a huge circle around the circumference of the grassy area. We were all gathered together as one body in the name of the Lord.

Then we prayed.

Our Wonderful Volunteers!