Clothes Closet

Weekly Update – July 21st, 2022

It is not unusual to have multiple people stop by during the week looking for help from our church.  First Baptist Church is situated in the center of town and has been in the center of town before the center of town was even located where it currently is.  We have a reputation for helping others, whether it be through our clothes closet and food pantry or through providing gas or for the temporary needs of others.  So, the fact that people stop by and ask for help is not a surprise nor is it a burden for us.

All throughout the Scriptures there are calls for believers to care for those who are less fortunate.  In fact, this is one of the reasons why Israel was conquered by their enemies and taken into captivity.  They trampled the head of the poor (Amos 2:7) and turned aside from the needy (Isa. 10:2).  Instead, Old Testament Israel should have sought justice and loved kindness (Micah 6:8).  The same is no less true in the New Testament.  As believers, we are called to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to display our faith through our generosity (Jas. 1:27, 2:14-17). 

This is the reason why our mission as a church is written the way that it is.  At First Baptist Church, we exist to speak out and to live out the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.   That means that we speak with our mouths the truth of Jesus Christ, but we also live out with our actions and our lives the kindness of God in such a way that reflects the saving grace that he has shown to us through his son.  This shows itself, in many ways, such as:  seeking to meet the needs of the poor, lifting up the downcast, seeking justice for the exploited and providing for the general good of mankind.  Therefore, we ought to be a church that cares about truth, but that also lives out the implications of that truth before our community.

One of the simple ways that we do this is through our clothes closet.  Every week, people from all around our community come and drop off clothes and household items to be given away to those in need.  Some of our ladies then come and sort through these giveaway items, organize them, and then prepare them to be given away.  Our next giveaway will be this Saturday, July 23^rd from 8:00-11:00am.  Please consider coming and being a part of this ministry.  There is always a lot of help needed on these giveaway days.       

As a church we ought to view our benevolence ministries as opportunities and not burdens.  They provide us with ways to put our faith in action and to communicate to the world around us that not only do we care about others knowing and loving Christ, but we also care about them as people as well.  I am so grateful for a church that seeks to bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2) and I pray that we will continue to faithfully speak out about the name of Jesus as we live out his grace that has so overwhelmingly taken over our lives.

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson