JACKSONVILLE – Marshall Road Baptist Church, Jacksonville, will host its annual Mission Jacksonville event 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 11.
“We started Mission Jacksonville about four years ago,” said Tsinina Burgan, Mission Jacksonville event coordinator. “Our goal was to reach the community around us while modeling a community outreach event.”
The ministry and outreach event started with volunteers from the church doing small construction projects on homes, painting, mowing lawns and visiting nursing homes.
“While we counted each year as a success as our members got to do hands-on missions, it wasn’t until we changed the look of the event in 2018 that I would say we truly created a greater impact,” said Burgan. “Last year we gave away school supplies, free haircuts, clothing and lunches on site at our church. We were intentional in speaking to and reaching out spiritually to those in attendance.”
This year, the event will feature games for children, door prizes, a clothes closet, free haircuts to people under 18 years old, free food and free school supplies.
“We will have a large revival tent on site to house various booths from the church and community in an effort to bridge that relationship,” said Burgan.
Jacksonville Medical Clinic will have a booth set up for blood pressure checks and health education. Lonoke County Safe Haven ministry will provide domestic violence awareness, and Options Pregnancy Center will provide pregnancy education. The Jacksonville Fire Department will provide firetruck tours.
Door prizes will include a car wash at Gwatzilla, photo sessions with a professional photographer, $100 Walmart gift card and more.
Marshall Road will also be giving away an all-expense-paid vacation to Branson for active duty military. The special door prize will include tickets to Silver Dollar City, Sight and Sound Theater, lodging and food.
“Our goal is simply to display to our community by loving and serving people in a practical way. We truly want to help meet the needs of people and serve them well,” said Lance Montalbano, pastor of Marshall Road. “Not only is it about meeting needs of those around us, but – being as close as we are to the Air Force Base – it gives us an opportunity to connect with and bless those families as well.”
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