Sept. 15, 2008 issue
Outreach to neighbors features gas giveaway
By Judy KingSouth Hutchinson, Kan. — South Hutchinson Mennonite Church hosted nearly 300 people at a neighborhood party Aug. 3 and gave away $1,200 worth of gas vouchers.
“We want to show our neighbors we care about them,” Pastor Howard Wagler said. “God has been incredibly generous with us. Why should we not be generous with our neighbors?
“We believe local missions are equally important as foreign missions, and we support both.”
With temperatures above 100 degrees, the paved parking lot felt like a hot griddle, but the neighborhood responded, clustering their chairs wherever there was shade.
The church served a dinner of barbecue beef sandwiches, prepared with meat that was buried overnight on top of hot coals in a 30-inch pit. Tropical Shores Steel Drum Band from Haven provided live music, and three large inflatables provided recreation.
The main excitement of the evening centered on two drawings, which took place every 15 minutes. Adults registered in hope of winning one of 40 gas vouchers worth $30 each, redeemable at a local gas station.
Children entered their drawing to win one of 20 mini pizzas from a locally owned pizza establishment.
“Know Your Neighbor” is the congregation’s theme for 2008.
“We started asking questions and discovered that very few of us really know our neighbors well,” said Eric Miller, associate pastor in charge of group life. “Our dream is that everyone would have a place to belong at the table in their neighborhood.”
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