When residents in one McMinnville, Tenn., subdivision go to
their area park, the first thing they think of is CrossRoads Fellowship Church.
Shortly after the Baptist mission was launched, it surveyed
the subdivision – which represents one of its target communities.
One of the survey questions asked residents, “How can
our church be valuable to you and your community?”
When residents in one McMinnville, Tenn., subdivision go to
their area park, the first thing they think of is CrossRoads Fellowship Church.
Shortly after the Baptist mission was launched, it surveyed
the subdivision – which represents one of its target communities.
One of the survey questions asked residents, “How can
our church be valuable to you and your community?”
Response after response indicated work needed to be done on
the local playground, badly in need of repairs and renovation. The park had
been started by the area developer but never completed.
Church members decided to do so.
“Surveys are pointless if you don’t respond,”
pastor Mike Gay points out.
“I advocate doing more servant evangelism. It means more
to the people because they see you really care and are not doing it just to
get attention.”
Acting on that philosophy, Gay and members of the new congregation
assessed what needed to be done in the park.
They then contacted the area developed, who agreed to provide
some materials for work in the park – if CrossRoads members would provide
the labor for the effort.
The park was grown up to the point that one could not see there
were picnic tables under a pavilion. Thus, one of the first things church members
did on a fall weekend was cut the grass that had grown so high children could
not play there.
Then, they repaired some of the playground equipment, rebuilt
a footbridge that crossed a gully in the middle of a grassy area in the park
and installed a basketball goal.
A dedication service was held at the renovated park a week
after the work was done, and the community was invited to a block party hosted
by the church.
The event included games, entertainment and food.
In ensuing weeks, people in the 115-house subdivision are beginning
to notice the park – and the presence of the church, member Darren Hillis
says. He cites an area grandmother as an example.
“She’s got two small grandchildren, and said she’s
been enjoying coming down here since it got cleaned up,” Hillis says.
Gay says community members expressed surprise when the church
did the survey but even more surprise when the church actually responded to
expressed needs and concerns.
“It really got their attention,” he notes.
The day after the block party, four families showed up for
worship at CrossRoads as a direct result, Gay adds.
Since then, one of those families has joined the church.
Gay says he sees potential for even more growth. A lot of new
subdivisions have developed in the area, he notes.
He says he also expects CrossRoads Fellowship Church to plan
similar efforts, localized for specific areas.
“When you do something localized, it’s more intimate for the people,”
Gay says. “They respond well, because they know you’re doing it just
for them.” (BP)