Since joining the city’s Church Association in 2015, the Guthrie Center Seventh-day Adventist Church has been privileged to participate in a variety of community events alongside other Christian denominations in the area.
The church recently hosted an annual early morning worship service, followed by breakfast. The 7:00 am event drew 50 people.
Other association events include an annual community luncheon, as well as a back-to-school luncheon for local public school teachers.
Participating in the association has also increased community interest in the church’s independently organized events. Two days before the early morning service, the Guthrie Center Church hosted a community agape feast. Approximately 80 people came to enjoy fellowship, delicious food, a musical concert, and a short devotional.
The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. “Word is getting out,” said church member Judy Rochholz. “People are already looking forward to next year.”
The Guthrie Center Church also hosted a “Pound Party” to stock the Association’s food pantry a few months ago, a community Thanksgiving service in November, and is currently offering Financial Peace University classes.
The church had hosted community events in the past, but often with a much smaller impact. They attribute the success of these events to the power of prayer and God’s faithfulness, as well as the relationships being built through the Church Association. They encourage other churches to foster relationships with people and other Christian organizations within their communities and to continue praying for God to bring forth fruit from those interactions.