Love Our Neighbors

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Love Our Neighbors

Love Our Neighbors

This Saturday is the 13th annual First Love service day at First Baptist. I am so grateful to Tom Perrin, Jr., for his leadership of this project. He and his team have put in tireless hours checking on projects, arranging volunteers, and placing people in the right slots. This year is also Hannah Singletary’s first year to work with First Love as our Director of Volunteer Engagement. She’s done a fabulous job working as staff liaison to this group. There is so much work behind the scenes that takes place for one day. And it’s all for one purpose—so that we can “love our neighbors as we love ourselves.”

First Love unites us as a church family across generations. Tom and his team intentionally arrange us so that we can serve with people who are either older or younger than we are. We don’t just serve with people we know; we use this day to get to know people who attend another worship service or attend another Bible study group.

This day also impacts our community in an incredible ways. Volunteers move across our community to demonstrate God’s love through good deeds. We share our faith through our hands and feet to agencies, individuals, and schools that need wheel chair ramps, food, flower beds, cleaning, and hospitality. We had approximately 20 new project requests, and we’ve reached out to some new people to assist us. This year, you might spot a few guests and non-church members among the volunteers. These folks not only have the skills we need to accomplish this good work, but they also have a desire to serve. Their talents, combined with our friendships, create a platform for us to introduce them to the life of Christ at First Baptist. We’ve intentionally reached out to invite them to serve with us. Life Groups have invited participants to serve with us, and college students will be with us who are not involved in a church in town. As important as the service we do for those in need will be the relationships we form with those who are serving.

As you make a difference in the community this weekend, know that you’ll also have the opportunity to share about the Person whose made the greatest difference in you. Be open, aware, and available. You never know when a door might open. Please pray for our participants, project managers, and projects. On Sunday morning, we’ll gather together to celebrate First Love during both morning worship services. We’ll have testimonies and a message focused on a life on mission for Christ called, “Great Commandment Christians.”