When pastor Adam Bray and his wife Megan came to Elam Baptist Church of Gray, Georgia, two years ago, they had a vision of a “church without walls.” They saw the various Mission Georgia initiatives as great ways to impact their community and be able to share the transforming truth of the gospel.
Megan said the church prayerfully considered ways in which it could help meet needs in the area and let residents know it was here to support them. She contacted the local Division of Family & Children Service lead case manager, who shared that Jones County has more certified foster homes than neighboring counties and currently has more than 50 certified homes for placements.
“One of her greatest wishes,” Megan said, “was a linen closet that foster families could access when getting emergency placements and needing towels and sheets.” In those situations, she explained, families often need linens and supplies quickly to be able to care for foster children.
Thus was born the idea of the Compassion Linen Closet.
The church made the linen closet a project for their Vacation Bible School kids, and the response, according to Megan, was overwhelming. The students held a boys versus girls competition and were able to gather more than 100 items and over $400 for the closet. Going forward, the church will keep the closet stocked with the necessary supplies.
Using what you have
Lorna Bius, a Mission Georgia mobilizer, said, “This is a great example of a church looking within to see how they can use what they have to serve a need and connect in their own community.” She added that sometimes “mission action looks like this — using a closet at church to serve the community.”
Church members have washed and sorted all the donated items, and they are eagerly waiting for the opportunity to serve the next foster family in need.
“Mission Georgia is grateful,” Bius said, “for the way Megan and church members have personalized gospel-centered care for their fostering neighbors.”
Foster care and adoption support is just one of the five areas of focus for Mission Georgia, which also include fighting human trafficking, assisting international refugees, improving pregnancy care and reducing childhood illiteracy.
Elam Baptist is also reaching outside its walls to assist in that last focus. The church partners with a local elementary school in the Georgia Reads campaign. The church started the program last year, and Megan said, “We are excited to see how the Lord works through these two outreach programs.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Henry Durand and originally published by the Christian Index.
