Texans on Mission volunteers from Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo returned to Fritch in recent days to complete a project they learned about during a disaster relief deployment.
The Amarillo crew, who served in Fritch after wildfires swept through the region, built a playground for First Southern Baptist Church there after Texans on Mission volunteers donated the needed funds.
“Anytime we’re on deployment, all of our hearts go out to the church in the community,” said David Wells, disaster relief director of Texans on Mission, historically known as Texas Baptist Men.
“On this particular deployment, the volunteers’ hearts went out to the church that was hosting them,” First Baptist Fritch, he added.
“They took up an offering and raised close to $15,000 for the church to purchase the playground equipment. Texans on Mission then helped get the equipment on the site,” Wells said.
The project had special significance for volunteer Van Graves from Amarillo. His wife, Judy Rose Graves, explained, “Before he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, he and I could go out with the Paramount Baptist group.”
Opportunity to serve
While his physical condition made long-term disaster relief deployments impossible, the project in nearby Fritch offered an opportunity to serve alongside other volunteers from Paramount Baptist Church and fellowship with them.
“It meant so very much to him and to me. He was excited to go and be with them again,” she said. “It was very good for him.”
Wells expressed appreciation for the disaster relief volunteers who paid for the playground equipment and the Paramount group.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Ferrell Foster and originally published by Baptist Standard.
