April 25, 2024
Young Riley Newsome, left, helps Ted Jarriel administer a patch while Joe Lausch pumps up a tire on a bicycle tire. Darrel Holliday, seated, waits to welcome more bicycles to be dropped off for minor repairs as part of Jefferson Street Baptist's Summer of Service. DARREN TALLEY/SpecialDUBLIN — A missions effort originally intended to last the summer has signs of further life, says Darren Talley.
"We're wanting to get more engaged in the community and thinking missionally," explains Talley, senior pastor of Jefferson Street Baptist Church. "So, we developed the JSBC Summer of Service to share the love of Christ."
Joe Lausch and Yvonne Mullis watch Riley Newsome work on a bicycle chain. DARREN TALLEY/SpecialThere were four points to the program, he explained.
Point number four encompasses the purpose of Summer of Service, notes Talley. "This isn't for our own glory, but as unto the Lord. It's for His glory."
He admits that results have been hit-and-miss, with adjustments made along the way. For example, the church hosted an initial attempt at offering free minor bicycle repairs. However, only a couple of bikes were dropped off. They tried again at a public park with enough bicycles brought to keep them busy the whole afternoon, Talley says.
"We did about every bit of bike repair we could in our skill set. We pumped and patched tires, straightened out sprockets, and fixed chains. One chain was so twisted around we had to take it apart and put it back together."
Another part of Summer of Service was visiting homebound members. JSBC members visited others unable to attend church due to injury, age, or illness. Begun at the start of summer, Talley points to it as setting a tone for the outreach.
"People took responsibility for someone and made it a point to visit them and remind them they were part of the Jefferson Street Baptist family," he explains.
Left to right, Pam Davidson, Gayle Marshall, and Yvonne Mullis bake cookies to be delivered to downtown businesses in Dublin. The missions outing was part of Jefferson Street Baptist Church's Summer of Service, and well-received to the point that it's set to become a regular part of the church's ministry. DARREN TALLEY/SpecialOne outreach has been a bona fide hit with givers and receivers. Due to the church's location, it's proving to be quite the door-opener.
"After our Vacation Bible School we wanted to continue to reach the downtown area," Talley says. "Some ladies thought of baking cookies and delivering them to businesses near JSBC. We ended up taking more than 800 cookies to others. The ladies delivering them said it was a great success and begged to do it again."
JSBC secretary Pam Davidson joined those making deliveries. Subsequently, Talley didn't get to take part and instead covered phones. He did, however, take advantage of making himself available for product testing beforehand.
"We ended up delivering several hundred more on a second trip," states Talley. "Plans are to continue this each month. In a couple of weeks we'll be taking cookies to local first responders."
Joe Lausch fixes a bicycle's tire tube while Darrel Holliday and a Dublin resident look on. DARREN TALLEY/SpecialStubbs Park sits just a few blocks from Jefferson Street Baptist. It's an area, Talley says, that has a bad reputation and one people tend to stay away from. In other words, it's the kind of place to which he sees churches needing to connect. Next week he's meeting with a community group to discuss ways to revitalize the area.
"When we were fixing bicycles, people would ask us why we would do something like that for free. It opened up a chance for us to explain the gospel and the free gift offered through Christ. We're hoping to return soon."
