When Clarence Steiner was appointed as the first missionary in Henry Association in 1994, he decided to do something different with the annual meeting.

He began by incorporating revival services, then a banquet, with the meeting. Last year association leaders decided to make the event a celebration of the previous year. The result has been churches more involved and interwoven into the association’s overall ministry.

On Oct. 16 the association held a block party to celebrate the ministries and gains over the past year. Actual business was handled in meetings held periodically throughout the year.

“This year we went with an entirely outside event,” said Debbie Hendrix, association ministry assistant. “There was praise and worship, a concert and video of things showing people reaching out to the community. It’s a chance to present some of the out-of-the-box things our churches are doing.

“We have found that this format reaches a lot of young families and younger people. We’ve never been traditional or had traditional programs. We want more people to get involved [with associational ministry] and this is helping.”

Hendrix said approximately 750 people came to this year’s event. Attendees enjoyed food, fellowship and inflatable games for children. Music was provided by a choir consisting of various members of churches from the association. Members of a new Haitian church plant and the David Akin family also provided music.

Henry Association was only four years old itself when Steiner came on board.

“This used to be a very rural area and this has become a good opportunity for people to get reacquainted,” said Steiner. “This builds a sense of community.”