I am fortunate to be one of the many people that are helping with the upcoming "Grace of Giving" celebration banquet.
We were looking for entertainment and I contacted a husband and wife team from Carrollton that has a small business booking Christian artist throughout the country.
While I was speaking with one of the owners, Mark, I mentioned that it was for Shepherd of the Hills in Douglas County. He stated "I know that church, it is on the corner of Chapel Hill and Anneewakee".
The next day I met with Mark and he was telling me that when he informed his wife that they are working with Shepherd of the Hills, she stated "I know that church, it is across from that new Publix." She would not have known any other church in Douglas County, but she knew that one.
That got me thinking, on a few occasions I have had the opportunity to help out at The Pantry. When speaking with other volunteers and staff, they will usually ask which church are you from. When I reply "Shepherd of the Hills" they will say "I know that church, they are here often".
There is a community not far from the church building that the Community and Congregational Care team works with during the summer, you can bet that they say "I know that church" whenever they hear Shepherd of the Hills.
After the recent flooding, we met a roofer that lost everything to the floods. After I sent a letter to the church asking if they could help, the Women of SOTH didn’t hesitate to start a collection and wrote a check to help meet that family’s, along with others, immediate needs. They also provided guidance on where to obtain other help. Those families are now saying "I know that church, they were there when we needed help".
Families in neighborhoods and communities all around are saying "We know that church" whenever they hear Shepherd of the Hills, because of the people involved with the LRE ministry that is reaching out to them with love.
A director for the company I work for lives in Cumming. We were talking some time back and I mentioned that I attend Shepherd of the Hills. He stated "I know that church; my mother-in-law from Florida saw a news report about "Baby Nora" and wanted to give a donation." Not only does a lady in Florida know that church, but a family in Iraq, an army unit serving our country and many others can say "I know that church".
I guess my point is, when Mark and his wife said they know that church, they were speaking of the building. If they are able to join us on Friday night, I know that on Saturday morning that if someone mentions Shepherd of the Hills, they will say "We know that church and we worshiped with that church in the building on the corner of Chapel Hill and Anneewakee, across from Publix". They will also say, 'that building cannot hold that church, her ministries are moving out to the communities and beyond. We were there to witness the bar being raised and saw how they celebrate what Paul calls "The Grace of Giving"
Thank you for being that church.
Randy Baskin
Chair, SOTH Finance Team
1 comment:
When speaking of SOTH I get the "I know that church" response all the time! I extend invitations as often as I can and I share with anyone who will listen what we're up to and how much I enjoy SOTH. It warms my heart to have people actually recognize what church I'm speaking of and what they've heard about it...whether it be the preschool, Pumpkin Patch, Summer Lunch Program, Trunk or Treat or countless others. I love SOTH and I think people can tell. :)
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