The Second Baptist Church community has shifted its focus this season, showing children that they are valued. In years past, outreach in August has been giving out school bags loaded with school supplies. With school’s going virtual, the church community still wants to celebrate the local children and will be holding a community drive-thru, giving out goodie gift bags for elementary school, middle school, and high school students.
“In light of the COVID virus, we wanted to show a tangible way about how we feel about the children in our community,” said the Rev. Johnnie Fleming Jr., pastor of Second Baptist Church. “With school going virtual we shifted our thoughts of what we have normally done and decided to do a gift of love goodie bag with a drive-thru event. We want young kids to know we were thinking about them.”
“Gifts of Love,” will take place Saturday, Aug. 22 from 9 a.m. until noon while supplies last.
“All gift bags will be age appropriate and will have snacks, bubbles, hand-held toys, hand sanitizer, just lots of fun stuff and maybe even masks,” said Fleming’s wife, Clementine. “We want the children to know that ‘you are valued.’ Our children our important; God has only loaned them to us. We are here to guide them and show them they are loved.”
The “Gifts of Love” drive-thru is open to all school-age children in the community. Recipients do not need to be members of the church.
Second Baptist Church has over 600 members. Usually it would hold two services on Sunday, filling its 230-seat capacity sanctuary. The church has been holding virtual services for the last five months and will continue until “it is safe” to have indoor gatherings.
Second Baptist Church is located at 5100 W. Hundred Rd. For more information visit www.second-baptist.com.
