LOOK WHAT PRAYER CAN DO!
Over the last 2 years, this association has been actively pursuing the Holy Spirit's guidance in reaching our neighborhoods. We have been praying for "heart change" among the Christians in our churches. Last night our MBA SSJ Team gathered and reviewed some things that God has been doing THROUGH churches and individuals these last two years. WOW! I am sure there are more.....if you know of things your church has done these last 2 years, please leave a comment and we will add it to our list!!
*A large church,
First Baptist Church, is assisting a smaller church,
Pinedale, with their Vacation Bible School.
*
Ridgecrest, as a part of their “Jerusalem” emphasis, partners with
Community of Hope by providing a building and weekly volunteers for Hope Community Ministries. Hope is open to other churches partnering with them as well.
*At least four of our churches (
Vaughn Forest, Yarbrough St., Morningview, and Highland Gardens) have partnered with
Shepherd’s Staff Ministries to provide volunteers, space, funding, tutoring, and other assistance in needy communities of our city.
*
Capitol Heights provides volunteers and serves as the distribution center for Angel Food Ministries.
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Gateway Baptist continues to be intentional about reaching their community in relevant, tangible ways. Basketball and car clinics have been great tools to draw people to Christ. Some of the young men who have participated in basketball have come to know Christ and found a home at Gateway.
*Churches in at least three areas of our city partner with others for special services like community Thanksgiving services, Easter sunrise services, or community revival services.
*Four churches (
Morningview, Capitol Heights, Chisholm, and Beacon of Hope) partner with the Hands of Christ Ministry Center in Chisholm.
*Eastdale partners with
Family Promise Ministry to assist with housing homeless families one week at a time during the year. They host them four times a year.
*
All of our churches partner with our
two ministry centers, Conversational English, Samaritan Inn and Baptist Family Resource and Counseling Center.
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Five of our Lowndes County churches are in talks about joining together to start a community outreach center for those in need in their county.
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Morningview Baptist made intentional effort to reach their community for Christ through foster parent training and through community outreach days.
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Open Acres Baptist had a Community Fun Day to reach more people right in the neighborhood.
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Yarborough Street, Eastern Hills, Ridgecrest churches, along with Forest Park Ministry, Community of Hope and Shepherds Staff are all reaching the Mixteco indigenous people group here in Montgomery and have joined together to form a Mixteco Task Force.
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Highland Avenue Church has started a single parent ministry in the neighborhood meeting physical as well as spiritual needs.
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Several larger churches are doing different outreach events such as meeting the need for clean, family fun such with a movie night in the park.
*A couple at
First Baptist are in the process of starting an Orphan Ministry to support those in the Montgomery area who have adopted both internationally and domestically.
*A family from
Vaughn Forest have “moved into the neighborhood” downtown to be a light in the midst of darkness and being good neighbors. Several people have come to know Christ.
*Several members of different churches are helping start a Community Garden in the Nixon Times neighborhood in West Montgomery so that families can grow healthy foods. There will be opportunity to use the garden for Bible studies and classes on nutrition for kids.
*
Eastmont Baptist held a Community Pet Day reaching people who normally may not go to church. They also open their basketball court up to the guys in the neighborhood in hopes of building bridges to the community. They have gone “out” into the community to hold Senior Adult VBS at the local nursing homes. Other ministries like Meals on Wheels and BYBC’s on the Westside continue to get members involved in their community and city.
*
Lowndesboro Baptist challenged her members to take the money from the church, match it or multiply it and find a way to meet specific needs in their community. There were quite a few testimonies of God working through that simple act of kindness.
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Several of our churches have participated in the state-wide GPS (God’s Plan for Sharing). McGehee Road partnered with the campus ministry at Alabama A&M to make contacts with their neighborhood. Prayer walking was a part of that plan. Other churches who participated were Eastern Hills, Dalraida, Ridgecret, Eastmoont, Taylor Road, FBC, Victory, Cloverdale and Heritage.
*
Vaughn Forest Church is being intentional about reaching community leaders by providing quality training in the area of leadership. Their kick off event co-hosted the Chick Fil A Leadercast bringing in over 300 people from the Montgomery area.
*Three hundred and eighty-eight Christians are a part of the Montgomery Prayer Network on Facebook. There is an alternative “blog” for those who do not use Facebook.
http://www.montgomeryprayernetwork.blogspot.com/
*This past December,
31 MBA churches and 7 other Christian churches partnered with Forest Park Ministry Center, Valley Park Ministry Center, Community of Hope and Shepherds Staff Ministry to host a Christmas Toy Sale for parents of over 300 children. Out of that ministry time, a couple of churches in our area will be hosting similar outreaches in their neighborhoods.
*
Yarborough Street Baptist delivers Meals on Wheels and Angel Food boxes to needy families since many are older or can’t drive.
*A member of
Heritage Baptist Church is teaching cooking classes to kids who stay at home while parents work..easy recipes and a dose of Jesus makes a healthy child.
*
Lakeview Baptist held their first missions conference to let the congregation know what is going on so that they can begin to be involved in their community.
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Members from several churches in Montgomery are gathering every Tuesday this summer to learn Spanish so they can minister to people whose “heart language” is Spanish.
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A group of 10 church members gathered to learn to teach conversational English to the Mixtec people. A class has started at Forest Park Ministry Center THIS WEEK.
*Nehemiah Center, a ministry of FBC, hosts a weekly worship gathering called
the Refuge for the Chisholm neighborhood.
*
Ridgecrest now
shares their facilities with our Korean congregation in hopes of building friendship and support for both group.
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Eastern Oaks Baptist is having a block party in June so that the church can get to know the people who live in the neighborhoods surrounding the church. They will have a mini-VBS which will be followed by the block party.
These are only a few things that our churches are doing to share Christ with their communities. What are YOU doing in your church to share God' Love in tangible ways with those around you???
"The Word became flesh and MOVED into the neighborhood." John 1:14 (The Message)
