September 30, 2024
MERIDIAN, Miss. — When Northcrest Baptist Church in Meridian, Mississippi, participated in Serve Tour Meridian in early 2022, they thought it would be a short-term mission project. But what began as a temporary outreach effort has transformed into a long-term ministry that continues to bless their community.
Led by Pastor Wade Phillips, Northcrest’s involvement in Serve Tour sparked new initiatives, including a mobile grilling ministry and a clothing trailer, both of which visit underserved apartment complexes in Meridian monthly. Pastor Phillips recalls how the Serve Tour experience ignited this transformation.
“One of the things that happened during Serve Tour is that Forgotten Ministries was here, and they brought their mobile grill,” Phillips shared. “They take that grill into apartment complexes, serve free hamburgers and hot dogs, and share the gospel with people. It’s super simple but really effective.”
Inspired by Forgotten Ministries, longtime Northcrest member Gary Newell took the lead in starting a similar grill ministry for the church. Newell, alongside his church community group, funded and built a trailer to start a mobile grilling and clothes ministry.
“We probably take it out in some form at least every other month,” Phillips said. This ongoing ministry hasn’t just filled bellies—it has changed lives.
According to Pastor Phillips, “We’ve seen hundreds of professions of faith since Serve Tour because of that.” He added that the church now takes a mobile baptistry with them on these visits, baptizing new believers right on the spot.
The impact has been more than just spiritual. Phillips recounted the story of a woman from one of the apartment complexes who, after witnessing the transformation, shared how her neighborhood had changed.
Phillips recounts, “She said, ‘I don’t know what y’all did at our apartment complex, but that place has been different since y’all left. We haven’t had a single fight since y’all left.’”
Phillips continues, “At first I thought, I know this woman. She’s trying to make me feel good. It’s really nice to hear that. But then our worship pastor had a different person tell him exactly the same thing.”
Northcrest’s involvement with Serve Tour has also encouraged church members to step out of their comfort zones.
“It’s given people who have never been involved in evangelism an opportunity to go out and see, number one, that they can do it, and number two, that people will respond,” Phillips said.
For other churches considering participating in a Serve Tour, Pastor Phillips has one simple piece of advice: “Do it. If you lead your church to do it, I believe they’ll see a huge difference.”
From a mobile grill and a clothing ministry to a mobile baptistry, Northcrest Baptist Church continues to serve their community with compassion and purpose. The spark that began with Serve Tour Meridian is still lighting the way for countless lives in Mississippi and beyond.
Ignite a passion for your community and evangelism through Serve Tour.
We want to make it as easy as possible for you to serve these cities in Jesus’ name, so Send Relief staff will provide team trainings, prayer guides, debriefings, and rallies to help encourage volunteers in their next step on mission.
