From March 26-28, Will Graham will proclaim the Gospel at the East Alabama/West Georgia Celebration. Area youth are getting excited and involved by learning the basics of evangelism. Several weeks ago, many participated in FM419 training, which prepares them for evangelism.
To continue this preparation, more than 800 people dispersed throughout the Auburn area to pray and serve in the name of Christ.
Wanda McCurdy is a BGEA representative with Crusade Ministries who coordinates community action projects, children’s events and prayer gatherings. “As a part of the Will Graham celebration, we wanted to do some outreach projects,” she said. “We wanted to invite these people to the Will Graham Celebration, but we also wanted to share the Gospel with them in deed as well as in word.”
Far in advance, people are working behind the scenes to see that those in need receive the ministry of service. McCurdy worked with several local resources, including a group that does semiannual community service projects and an agency that assists those who are physically or financially disabled.
From roofing homes and churches to repairing floors and porches to painting walls, acts of service were done to physically demonstrate the love of Christ. “Basically, any type of home repair that was recognized or requested was done. Field craftsmen led the teams, and we had a variety of different projects going on throughout the course of the day.”
She tells of one man in particular who had a recent leg amputation. He lived in a mobile home that didn’t have a wheelchair accessible ramp. His daughter-in-law made contact with one of the local agencies and asked for help in getting this ramp complete. Not only did a local lumber company donate the materials, there was also group of men participating in the community action projects that day who had carpenter skills.
“They ended up building a ramp from back of his trailer to where his car was parked,” she explained. “He was so excited to have this new ramp. Thankfully, he knows the Lord and told us that his recovery alone was a blessing to him, and now, someone cared enough to come out and build this ramp for him.”
In another part of town, there was a woman with a large, rotten hole in floor of her house. As the team finished repairing the hole, she mentioned sleeping in that particular spot. When the team asked her why she would do that, she told them her bed was no good. The team looked at the bed and saw that it was broken down, and not a comfortable place to sleep.
“They were determined to do something about it, so they went to a furniture store, talked to the owner and told him of the situation,” McCurdy recalls. “The team members pooled whatever money was in their pockets, and the store owner ended up selling a bed to them at that price! So, she was doubly blessed”
McCurdy says the reason behind these community action projects is simple. “We do this to show love of Christ to someone. Especially to those who do not know Him, this demonstration should be practical and observable. That is why we do what we do.”
