Allegan County News - Allegan, Michigan. . . Jan 26, 2006 Page 7
Mission
Pastor Don Hendrick hopes to fill this bus with 30 volunteers for
Allegan First Church of God's mission trip to the Gulf Coast. (Photo
by Nu Yang)
Allegan First Church of God's mission trip to the Gulf Coast. (Photo
by Nu Yang)
Mission
Mission work tops new pastor's list
By Nu Yang
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
When Pastor Don Hendrick took over the ministry at the First Church of God in Allegan last spring, one of his goals was to gear his congregation into becoming more of a mission-oriented group. He is nearing that goal as the church prepares for a missions trip to the Gulf Coast in order to provide aid to victims of Hurricane Katrina. Although the hurricane has come and gone, the devastation is still apparent and residents are still struggling to get back on their feet.
Hendrick began planning the week-long trip when he heard from Plainwell pastor Mark Minegar's trip to the region. I heard so much joy and hope in his story of being able to help others," he said.
Hendrick said his interest in going to the South came from a previous mission trip he had taken to the Dominican Republic.
Minegar had travelled with Michigan House Rep. Fulong Sheen last December and was able to give contact information to Hendrick. From there, Hendrick invited the state official to speak at his church. "We were so excited about it," Hendrick said. During Sheen's visit, he shared pictures from his trips and helped the church start in their first steps in organizing their own mission trip.
Sheen was able to give them information on AmeriCorps, which Hendrick described as a "modern day Peace Corps in the States." AmeriCorps has helped many volunteers set up as they traveled to the Gulf Coast." They help find places to sleep, provide meals and coordinate activities," Hendrick said.
The group will be traveling by school bus and in private vehicles to Pass Christian, Mississippi - a small town right on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico and the state. During the week, they will be staying in tent villages comprised of volunteers from all over the country. The group will be working primarily with the elderly who have in many cases received money from insurance companies to rebuild their homes, but they have no one to help them. The school bus will be packed with mostly building supplies, such as tools, ladders and tarps.
Hendrick said although they are unsure on what kind of donation items are needed, he will not turn away any supplies people would like to give. Hendrick hopes to fill the bus with at least 30 volunteers. Currently, there are 18 confirmed bus passengers for the trip that will depart from Allegan on Friday, Feb. 17, and return Saturday, Feb. 25. Hendrick said he opened the trip up to the entire Allegan area because there was so much need in the South. "If I can get 100, I will go for it," he said.
He said this kind of trip would appeal to Allegan County because so many people here want to make a difference. "We have teens who have signed up for the trip and their teachers are enthusiastically supporting their participation." Along with teens, there are also men and women who are leaving behind their jobs and families to join the church on this mission.
"This will not be a vacation trip," Hendrick warned. "There will be lots of working, carrying, cleaning and building."
Older adults, such as retirees, have also committed to the project. Although their contributions may be limited from a building repair point-of-view, Hendrick said they would be a great asset to the elderly and lonely people they would be meeting in the South. "They can sit down and visit with them and offer prayers for them", he said. "It can help cheer them up, and help rebuild their sense of hope and optimism about the future."
Hendrick said by participating in this trip, he hoped to experience the same feeling Pastor Minegar received during his trip having reported that "he never felt more proud of being an American and a Christian." "It's about people being brought together and rolling up their sleeves to work for the same cause. We can't help everyone, but we're going to help as much as we can."
Hendrick said he hopes to return ro the region in the future for a second trip. The need is so great. It will take years before it gets back to normal."
Hendrick began planning the week-long trip when he heard from Plainwell pastor Mark Minegar's trip to the region. I heard so much joy and hope in his story of being able to help others," he said.
Hendrick said his interest in going to the South came from a previous mission trip he had taken to the Dominican Republic.
Minegar had travelled with Michigan House Rep. Fulong Sheen last December and was able to give contact information to Hendrick. From there, Hendrick invited the state official to speak at his church. "We were so excited about it," Hendrick said. During Sheen's visit, he shared pictures from his trips and helped the church start in their first steps in organizing their own mission trip.
Sheen was able to give them information on AmeriCorps, which Hendrick described as a "modern day Peace Corps in the States." AmeriCorps has helped many volunteers set up as they traveled to the Gulf Coast." They help find places to sleep, provide meals and coordinate activities," Hendrick said.
The group will be traveling by school bus and in private vehicles to Pass Christian, Mississippi - a small town right on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico and the state. During the week, they will be staying in tent villages comprised of volunteers from all over the country. The group will be working primarily with the elderly who have in many cases received money from insurance companies to rebuild their homes, but they have no one to help them. The school bus will be packed with mostly building supplies, such as tools, ladders and tarps.
Hendrick said although they are unsure on what kind of donation items are needed, he will not turn away any supplies people would like to give. Hendrick hopes to fill the bus with at least 30 volunteers. Currently, there are 18 confirmed bus passengers for the trip that will depart from Allegan on Friday, Feb. 17, and return Saturday, Feb. 25. Hendrick said he opened the trip up to the entire Allegan area because there was so much need in the South. "If I can get 100, I will go for it," he said.
He said this kind of trip would appeal to Allegan County because so many people here want to make a difference. "We have teens who have signed up for the trip and their teachers are enthusiastically supporting their participation." Along with teens, there are also men and women who are leaving behind their jobs and families to join the church on this mission.
"This will not be a vacation trip," Hendrick warned. "There will be lots of working, carrying, cleaning and building."
Older adults, such as retirees, have also committed to the project. Although their contributions may be limited from a building repair point-of-view, Hendrick said they would be a great asset to the elderly and lonely people they would be meeting in the South. "They can sit down and visit with them and offer prayers for them", he said. "It can help cheer them up, and help rebuild their sense of hope and optimism about the future."
Hendrick said by participating in this trip, he hoped to experience the same feeling Pastor Minegar received during his trip having reported that "he never felt more proud of being an American and a Christian." "It's about people being brought together and rolling up their sleeves to work for the same cause. We can't help everyone, but we're going to help as much as we can."
Hendrick said he hopes to return ro the region in the future for a second trip. The need is so great. It will take years before it gets back to normal."
In the meantime, the church is sponsoring a gas card raffle fund raiser. Money raised from the sale of tickets will be used to purchase relief supplies. Tickets are $2 each, or three for $5.
First prize is a $250 gas card, second prize is a $100 gas card, and third prize is a $50 gas card, with the drawing being on March 1, 2006
To buy tickets, contact the church at (269) 673-4302 or stop by the church's Ministry Center located at 1313 Marshall St. in Allegan.
For more information on the missions trip or to sign up for a spot on the bus, contact Pastor Hendrick at the above number or visit www.pathtohim.org/Mississippi.htm
First prize is a $250 gas card, second prize is a $100 gas card, and third prize is a $50 gas card, with the drawing being on March 1, 2006
To buy tickets, contact the church at (269) 673-4302 or stop by the church's Ministry Center located at 1313 Marshall St. in Allegan.
For more information on the missions trip or to sign up for a spot on the bus, contact Pastor Hendrick at the above number or visit www.pathtohim.org/Mississippi.htm
Nu Yang can be reached at nuyang@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.
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For more information, please call the Ministry Center at (269) 673-4302.
Click here to report an error on this page.