Four school buses filled with volunteers recently drove into the Sooner Haven apartments near the corner of NE 36 and Prospect.
Members of Victory Church, 4300 N MacArthur, poured out of the buses, armed with box fans and food for residents in the public housing complex. Those whose arms weren't full of edibles or fans hoisted weed cutters, hedge trimmers and other lawn care tools.
Advertisement
The Warr Acres ministry volunteers spread out to show their concern for others in tangible ways. June 21 was set aside as the day churches participating in LifeChurch.tv's One Prayer sermon and prayer effort were to share the Gospel by serving their communities.
"We're just trying to love on the community, trying to do a little bit of good,” volunteer Paul Campbell of Oklahoma City said as he used a weed trimmer on a grassy area at Sooner Haven, 1410 NE 36.
Victory Church leader Jed Chappell said every apartment unit received a fan, and boxes of food also were distributed. As Chappell watched, young residents played on inflatables brought in by the church, while others ate hamburgers and chips provided by the ministry.
A singer from Victory who said he once lived in the complex shared his testimony of faith with a crowd gathered in the complex parking lot.
"Our biggest goal was to connect to people, one-on-one,” Chappell said. "We've gone door-to-door. We just want to be a positive influence.”
Church leader Jacque Jones said about 150 volunteers were from Victory, while another 50 were LifeChurch.tv members. A larger contingent of LifeChurch.tv volunteers partnered with volunteers from 14 other ministries for repair and landscaping projects at the Oak Grove public housing complex at 3301 SW 17.
Bobby Gruenewald, innovation leader-pastor at LifeChurch.tv, said a nearby elementary school also received the attention of volunteers, and a soccer field and basketball court were revitalized.
Gruenewald said more churches have signed up to participate in the One Prayer effort since it began June 7-8. Expected to conclude today and Sunday, the effort was created by LifeChurch.tv senior pastor Craig Groeschel as a way for pastors across the globe to preach and discuss their "one prayer” for the church at large.
More than 1,200 churches across the state, nation and the world are participating in the effort.
As part of One Prayer, Groeschel and at least 60 pastors shared their prerecorded One Prayer sermons with congregations around the world. Those faith messages were made available to each participating church over the duration of the series. For example, a pastor was to preach about his "one prayer” on a Sunday, then share the sermons of other pastors of his choice via video for each remaining week of the series.
Leave a comment.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).
More Info
From left, resident Bicki Grissom picks up a fan at the Sooner Haven apartment complex from Victory Church volunteers Connie Maguffee, Mark Ballard and Melissa Adams during the One Prayer community service effort. BY JACONNA AGUIRRE, THE OKLAHOMAN
0
