Cokes Chapel in Sharpsburg,
GA is a small, older church with an average worship attendance of about 115
people if you count both services. I was a member here in middle school and
high school, my parents are still active members here, and my sister was
married in this church. There is something comforting and familiar about going
back to a home church. And for some reason it is always surprising when things
change, even though it shouldn’t be. Cokes Chapel has grown and has new members
from the community and has a new pastor since I was a member, Pastor Lisa. David
and I have only known Lisa for a short time now, but she was so supportive of
us and compassionate to us and the ministry and led Cokes Chapel into becoming
passionate for the kids of the Blessing Home.
Cokes Chapel has decided to
partner with us and Thailand Methodist Mission and has committed to doing
fundraisers throughout the year for us and another missionary couple, the Haddens.
Cokes Chapel committed to raising $1,200 each year for each missionary family.
Our first fundraiser was a Mexican Fiesta dinner and silent auction a couple
weeks ago. People bought tickets to come and have dinner and could auction on
quite a variety of items from hand sewn baby dress to an antique gun, which was
apparently in high demand. It was a packed house! People were getting so into
the auction that Pastor Lisa started live auctioning off the leftover food in
the kitchen. We had people getting all riled-up betting over a box of local
grown tomatoes! It was a lot of fun. That Sunday Pastor Lisa allowed us to give
the sermon and explain our ministry at both services.
Grand total raised for Thailand Methodist Mission that weekend was $3,500! Everyone was surprised. Everyone thought we would have to do multiple fundraisers throughout the year just to raise $1,200, but surpassing the goal did not slow these church members down. We had multiple people telling us ideas of how they want to do the next fundraiser. It is so encouraging to me and David when we have church members who we feel understand the importance of this ministry and have developed a love for people in Thailand they have never met. David and I know that there is nothing either of us can say that can make people love others in another country who they don’t know. But we pray every time before we go speak that the Holy Spirit touches peoples’ hearts and cultivates a love for the people of Thailand. When we have a whole church or group of people who we speak with that grows to love the Blessing Home children we thank God for reaching these people and allowing us to be a part of it.
David and my mom at the silent auction |
Mexican fiesta dinner |
Winners of the tomato auction |