Allegan County News - Allegan, Michigan. . . April 6, 2006 Page 7
Michigan Rep. Fulton Sheen attended Allegan First Church of God's worship service on Sunday, March 5. He spoke to the congregation and encouraged others to volunteer in hurricane relief efforts in Pass Christian, Mississippi. (Photo by Nu Yang)
Allegan church reflects on mission trip to Gulf Coast
By Nu Yang
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Weeks have passed since several members of the Allegan First Church of God returned from their mission trip in Pass Christian, Mississippi. From Friday, February 17, to Saturday, February 25, the church members along with other Michigan residents helped the city along the Gulf Coast in it recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina.
Now that they are back at home and well-rested, they gathered together on Sunday, March 5, to present to their congregation their experience in Pass Christian and celebrate their accomplished mission with a Cajun dinner.
Michigan State Rep. Fulton Sheen started the testimonials urging others to volunteer in the relief effort
He said what the South really needed were people, volunteers, to come down and assist them.
Sheen's speech was followed by 12 more testimonials as church members spoke about a particular event from the trip as a picture from a slideshow documenting their trip was featured in the background on a projection screen. Pictures varied from landscape and residents to volunteers at work.
The testimonials were also a lead-in to Pastor Don Hendrick's sermon: "Museum or Mission?"
Hendrick asked his congregation to make a choice---would their church be a museum, something that was only on display, something that was focused on the past? Or would their church be a mission, a church that wanted to work and think about the future?
Church members picked the second option. Hendrick said he hoped by making that choice, members would sign up for a trip to the South.
With two possible trips planned in the near future, Hendrick hoped to bring even more volunteers from Allegan to Pass Christian, expecially people who had never been on a mission trip before.
From an earlier interview, Hendrick said, "The need is huge and it is continuing. If there's a chance to go on this kind of trip, go on it."
Because of this trip, Hendrick has taken what he has learned and implemented it on his own surroundings. The church's soup kitchen has been renamed to God's Allegan Kitchen after God's Katrina Kitchen, the large meal tent in Mississippi. Hendrick is also planning on doing his own "mission trips to Allegan".
"I have a vision of doing the kind of work we did in Mississippi in our own backyard," he said. "We'll find a way to help people."
Hendrick has already set aside these dates for future trips to Pass Christian: Friday, April 28th thru Friday, May 5th and Friday, June 9th thru Friday, June 16th
People have already begun to sign up, but volunteers are still needed.
"In my heart of hearts, I hope that both trips happen," Hendrick said.
Now that they are back at home and well-rested, they gathered together on Sunday, March 5, to present to their congregation their experience in Pass Christian and celebrate their accomplished mission with a Cajun dinner.
Michigan State Rep. Fulton Sheen started the testimonials urging others to volunteer in the relief effort
He said what the South really needed were people, volunteers, to come down and assist them.
Sheen's speech was followed by 12 more testimonials as church members spoke about a particular event from the trip as a picture from a slideshow documenting their trip was featured in the background on a projection screen. Pictures varied from landscape and residents to volunteers at work.
The testimonials were also a lead-in to Pastor Don Hendrick's sermon: "Museum or Mission?"
Hendrick asked his congregation to make a choice---would their church be a museum, something that was only on display, something that was focused on the past? Or would their church be a mission, a church that wanted to work and think about the future?
Church members picked the second option. Hendrick said he hoped by making that choice, members would sign up for a trip to the South.
With two possible trips planned in the near future, Hendrick hoped to bring even more volunteers from Allegan to Pass Christian, expecially people who had never been on a mission trip before.
From an earlier interview, Hendrick said, "The need is huge and it is continuing. If there's a chance to go on this kind of trip, go on it."
Because of this trip, Hendrick has taken what he has learned and implemented it on his own surroundings. The church's soup kitchen has been renamed to God's Allegan Kitchen after God's Katrina Kitchen, the large meal tent in Mississippi. Hendrick is also planning on doing his own "mission trips to Allegan".
"I have a vision of doing the kind of work we did in Mississippi in our own backyard," he said. "We'll find a way to help people."
Hendrick has already set aside these dates for future trips to Pass Christian: Friday, April 28th thru Friday, May 5th and Friday, June 9th thru Friday, June 16th
People have already begun to sign up, but volunteers are still needed.
"In my heart of hearts, I hope that both trips happen," Hendrick said.
Interested in hurricane relief work?
To sign up for an upcoming mission trip
--- Call Pastor Don Hendrick at (269) 673-4302
--- The cost of the trip is relatively inexpensive, meals are provided and volunteers stay in a village of cabins. Showers and toilets are on the premises.
--- Bring clothes and shoes you don't mind getting dirty.
--- If you have tools and supplies, bring them.
--- Call Pastor Don Hendrick at (269) 673-4302
--- The cost of the trip is relatively inexpensive, meals are provided and volunteers stay in a village of cabins. Showers and toilets are on the premises.
--- Bring clothes and shoes you don't mind getting dirty.
--- If you have tools and supplies, bring them.
Allegan First Church of God is located at 1313 Marshall St. in Allegan. You may contact the church at (269) 673-4302 or stop by the church's Ministry Center for information about future Mission Trips. Also, please visit the church's website www.pathtohim.org/Mississippi.htm to read stories by individual team members and view nearly 50 pictures from the trip.
Please click here to request information about future Missions Trips.
Click here to report an error on this page.
Please click here to request information about future Missions Trips.
Click here to report an error on this page.