Faith In Action

Stories

In The News

Story | Second Baptist Church

“We Became Christ in the Flesh in Our Community”

Second Baptist Church helped rebuild homes damaged or demolished by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina...

“Our Faith in Action Day reminded us that God has called us to meet needs in our community – and that we DO have the gifts, talents and abilities to meet those needs,” declared Tommy Clements, senior pastor at Second Baptist Church in Baytown, Texas. “In serving outside the walls of our church that day, we let people see Christ in the flesh – in our community. And the impact was tremendous.”

In late spring 2007, Second Baptist’s Faith in Action team began contacting all the local non-profit entities in the area, explaining about Faith in Action and asking, “What can we do for you?” From those meetings came a list of 30 projects that this church of 750 took on. Members were encouraged to sign up for projects through their small groups, serving together. Some groups worked construction at Habitat for Humanity home sites; others helped rebuild homes damaged or demolished by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, through the local nonprofit group Nehemiah’s Vision. Another team painted and performed light carpentry at a homeless shelter, while others mowed, cleaned out brush and trimmed trees along a local highway.

Several groups cooked and served breakfast for all the police officers on duty that morning, took meals to the local fire stations, and cleaned up a little league baseball field. Other groups invited neighbors surrounding the church – predominantly minorities and unchurched – to a neighborhood block party on church grounds, complete with free breakfast, bounce houses and games for the kids. “We didn’t try to guilt anyone into coming to our services – we just invited them to come and have a good time,” said Pastor Tommy.

He recalled one member’s comment as they worked together, cleaning up along the highway: “He said, ‘When you first mentioned this idea of shutting down church and serving the community, I thought you were crazy, but it’s been a phenomenal day!’”

They also contacted the elementary school across the street, asking how Second Baptist could help the staff. Teachers brought their busy work en masse – things that needed cutting out, for instance – projects that they needed done but had no time to do them, and a team helped with that. Another ongoing result from this school is that church members signed up to become “lunch buddies” for kids that have been identified by the school as needing adult interaction. “These kids have problems at home – and problems at school,” Pastor Tommy explained. “They need attention and encouragement. One child had lost a sibling not too long ago – and our church member was able to encourage him.”

Community response was resoundingly positive, even before the event. One city official who attended a planning meeting with Second Baptist and various city offices commented, “I’ve been in city work for over 25 years, but this is the first time I remember having a church come and ask what they could do to help.” The local newspaper ran articles before and after the event.

“Without a doubt, the biggest effect was on our people,” said Pastor Tommy. “People were floored that their little bit of work, combined with everyone else’s, could make such a huge impact.”

The impact was so great that Second Baptist is spearheading another Faith in Action Day next fall, with other churches in the Bay Area Ministerial Alliance joining in. Pastor Tommy concluded, “If we could make a difference with our 400 workers – just think what will happen when thousands of Christians serve together on one day this fall!”