In the mission fields of Turrell

In the mission fields of Turrell

Students converge on community for cleanup, compassion

news@theeveningtimes.com

In the wake of violence often is heard the call, where is the church? Tragically, Dwayne Akins was shot dead on July 11 in the tiny town of Turrell north of Marion. The church responded, taking to the streets last week under the umbrella of Second Baptist Church Turrell and its Pastor Anthony Banks. Three different volunteer groups blanketed the city with the love of Christ in word and deed during the last full week of July.

Teams did community projects, door to door evangelism and prayer, Bible clubs for kids and Bible studies for adults, block parties, and a medical and dental clinic were the parts to the overall ministry blitz. “We knocked on just about every door in town twice,” said Banks. “Half the town turned out for our block parties.”

First Baptist Rogers imported 55 junior high and high school students for the week. That group based its bible club activities at the old high school home of the Turrell Rockets. At the city library, the grass was not only cut but the entire building scrubbed down on the outside and beautified with freshly planted flowers.

Mayor Dorothy Copper noticed two things. The group labored under heat advisory temperatures all week and the big blessing of community service couldn’t be anything but noticed. The mayor thanked Andre Coleman for making the old school available as the community park is still being developed.

“Not only have they gotten out in this hot heat to go door to door offering prayer, they also extended their hands to provide needed services around the homes of the elderly citizens and all at the charge of zero dollars,” said Cooper.

“The spruce-up to the library was compliments of the gracious group as well.” Jerry Bolander lead First Baptist Rogers to the delta town and journaled daily entries about how he saw God at work. Prayer circles broke out everywhere one day.

“It was a very emotional Wednesday,” said Rogers.

“One man seemed to ignore the students. Later in the day they spotted him walking down the street and made us stop the van so they could give him a Bible and they prayed with him.

Later that night he showed at Pastor Banks’ Bible study and the small congregation encircled this man and prayed over him for 15 minutes. The students found out he was going for surgery the next morning and got up at 6 a.m. to pray for him. We should all be proud for how these students represented Jesus.”

Bolander summed up the week with one last entry.

“What a tremendous experience for all involved,” said Bolander. “We love Pastor Anthony Banks and will continue to keep you and Turrell in our prayers.”

“You have to love these students and their passion for God,” replied Banks.

More than thirty town children rolled out early for 9 a.m. Bible clubs at the old high school each day.

The morning slot helped the youngsters beat the heat.

Second Baptist Turrell is part of the Delta Network of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (SBC) replanting delta churches with Black leadership. Besides Rogers Baptist two other groups rallied to strengthen the church and love on the neighbors in Turrell. An Arkansas Baptist block party trailer under the ministry of Brother Justin Murphy brought the celebration to a climax with games, food and fun. The week ended with a first class medical and dental clinic. St. Bernard’s mobile mammogram came from Jonesboro for screenings.

“We had the medical clinic on Saturday,” said Banks.

“We had three evangelistic councilors with people while they waited. It was beautiful to see people come down, help others and see lives turn to Christ.”

The effort came only a few days after the fatal shooting. Banks marveled at God’s Timing as the work had been planned in advance.

“That was the best part,” said Banks. “Especially at this time because we just had a murder here. They were able to bring families, both sides, back together through this work at Second Baptist. We give all the glory to God because we couldn’t do any of this without him.”

How else did taking the church to the streets of Turrell turn out? The city and some residents benefited from a clean up and blessings proved to be all around. Six professions of faith were reported and twelve new folks visited Second Baptist on Sunday morning.

By John Rech