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Story | First Baptist Church

This “Sunday Service” Lasted All Weekend!

After a short "sending - out" service, the church left the building to go work on a Habitat for Humanity home, canvass neighboorshoods in conjuction with the Fire Department to check on smoke detectors, and continue doing yard work for elderly...

On a sunny October Sunday, instead of wearing their “Sunday best” to church, members of First Baptist of Independence, Oregon, wore their work clothes to go and serve their community in their weekend-long “Serving Weekend”. The day before, they had joined Western Oregon University in its “Make a Difference Day,” doing yard work and light maintenance for a number of seniors and shut-ins in the community. First Baptist’s seniors group prepared lunches for all volunteers.

Then on Sunday, after a short “sending-out” service, left the church to go work on a Habitat for Humanity home, canvass neighborhoods in conjunction with the Fire Department to check on smoke detectors, and continue doing yard work for elderly citizens, including clearing away years of debris from one home.

“Folks that hadn’t been to church in awhile came to serve with us, and have been renewed. Many are still working every weekend to finish up the Habitat for Humanity House before Christmas,” said Pastor Michael Parks. “Even a first-time visitor on ‘Serving Sunday’ decided to go out and serve with us.”

First Baptist plans to hold “Serving Sundays” once per quarter. This Christmas they’re holding a food drive and making Christmas dinner for 30 families.

“The Lord definitely went before us and prepared the way,” said Pastor Michael. “There were several cases of obviously divine appointments. I don’t know of anything more impactful than this: serving in Jesus’ name, so that we can deliberately share Jesus’ love and his plan for their lives.

“The Faith in Action campaign was terrific: it builds quick momentum and creates a high degree of ownership. It’s not a difficult campaign – and it left our people with a sense of ‘We want to do more’.”