Mission Madness! Wow! What an incredible weekend of missional activity Friday-Sunday, March 14-16 for roughly 80 students, along with 20 plus adult chaperones/sponsors. Eight of our CBFGA partner churches were represented. I cannot say enough good about what occurred in Carrollton and Carroll County, GA.
Our hostess, First Baptist Church of Carrollton, was a class act. They were prepared and engaged. Many of the FBC sisters and brothers were present the entire time to serve food, answer questions, and offer heartfelt encouragement. FBC’s pastor, Dr. David Hughes, and the capable pastoral staff were exceptional in making the weekend worthwhile by arranging six missional sites where our students would serve. A representative from FBC was present at each site.
The theme for the weekend was “Go and Do the Same.” Rooted in Luke 10:25–38 and the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the weekend invited students to embody compassion through action. And they did just that—serving neighbors they may never know, simply because loving God means loving others.
Work was done at: Open Hands Ministry; the Community Soup Kitchen; JoJo’s Closet; Making Meals, in the Carrollton High School Kitchen, for Foster Families; First School “Toy Car Wash” at First Methodist Church; and Rise Against Hunger in FBC’s Fellowship Hall. These diverse sites allowed students to experience firsthand Jimmy Gentry Interim Executive Coordinator the many ways love can look like a hot meal, a clean toy, or a packed food bag—each one meeting real needs in the community.
I spent time at each missional site. I was so encouraged and touched as I watched the students serve Christ thoughtfully, diligently, and with unmitigated joy.
Our worship gatherings were powerful expressions of praise and thanksgiving to the Holy Trinity. The music was led by David Warren, Minister of Music and Worship at First Baptist Church of Roswell, and his wife, Katie. The preacher was Steve Cothran, Retired Minister of Youth at Central Baptist Church in Newnan and Interim Youth Minister at Park Road Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. The music and preaching were beyond excellent. And there was student participation—reading scripture, leading calls to worship, doing drama, singing, etc. There are some very gifted students in our churches!
We concluded on Sunday morning by observing Communion in a final worship service at 8:30 a.m. before everyone began their journeys home. It was a moving moment. It was a stirring weekend.