“There can’t be any greater feeling than watching one of your children present the gospel to the world,” Maria Chattin-Carter shared on her blog as her favorite memory from FamilyFEST in Memphis, Tenn., July 7-13. FamilyFEST, a ministry of national WMU, was an opportunity for her family to grow closer and to teach her children how to tell others about Jesus.
Debby Akerman, national WMU president and FamilyFEST volunteer from Ocean View Baptist Church in Myrtle Beach, served with Binghampton Community Church during a day camp for local children. She is assisting a young boy in sewing a pin on his new toboggan given to him by FamilyFEST volunteers.Chattin-Carter and her family, of Chattanooga, Tenn., helped lead a backyard Bible club throughout the week and served with around 200 volunteers from 15 states who ministered at 11 different project sites.
FamilyFEST in Memphis was a partnership between national WMU, Tennessee WMU, Mississippi River Ministry (MRM), and the Mid-South Baptist Association.
National WMU president Debby Akerman, a member of Ocean View Baptist Church, Myrtle Beach, was among the volunteers.”The thought that comes to my mind and heart as I reflect on my week at FamilyFEST is ‘immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine,’ ” she said. “More than a thought, it is Paul’s prayer for God’s work through us for his glory.”
Akerman said it was a joy to serve alongside many of the volunteers delivering cookies, pulling weeds, sorting clothes, and packing lunches for the homeless, among other ministries. Her afternoons were filled with “serving during block parties and backyard Bible clubs, all clearly presenting the love of Christ and the plan of salvation.”
FamilyFEST volunteers came to be a blessing to the community, but were blessed themselves as the prayers of the coordinators were answered, and then some.
“Every church should be involved in a family-oriented mission trip,” said Brook Lovett, associate pastor of children and evangelism at Concord Baptist Church in Calera, Ala. “FamilyFEST created a passion in our church for the work we need to do [at home] in Calera. It made our church family and the families in our church healthier and stronger.” – WMU