As many of you may know, Buckhead Church has The Intersect Project as our way to help people serve and live out their faith with the larger community. One of our goals for the Intersect Project is that service would become a way of life and not just a one-time event. One small group caught this vision and has made a big impact on the businesses and residents of Tower Place.
When the flood hit Atlanta, one of the ways we gave people the opportunity to be a part of the relief efforts was to volunteer or donate to Samaritan’s Purse. Since that time, a married small group had a vision to take it outside Buckhead Church and into their community. That vision…”What if we mobilized the Buckhead Business Community to donate one day’s lunch money toward the flood relief efforts.” Thus the Lunch Trek to Terminus was put into motion.
On Thursday, October 15, the small group asked all of the businesses and residents surrounding Tower Place to trek to Terminus and donate their lunch money to Samaritan’s Purse in exchange for a Chick-fil-A sandwich coupon. They wanted people to see that we can love our neighbor in tangible and simple ways. How much easier can it be to donate money you normally would have spent for lunch and you end up getting a free meal in the end?
As I write this there are still stories coming in about random encounters and conversations from the event. One of the key ones that stood out to the small group leader was this:
One phone call we made to elicit support was met with strong sarcasm. When the person heard that the “sponsor” of the event was a church small group trying to love our neighbors, we received laughter. Later we received a large check from this person. Did something change in his heart?
Not only did this event change the hearts of those who participated, but it also affected those who put it on.
The opportunity to come together as a small group and live out our faith – working as if it was up to us, but praying as if everything was up to God has given us a deep sense of satisfaction. We got to partner with God in a good work He prepared in advance for us to do.
Thank you for the great reminder that WE are the Church and not the building.
Ryan Van Sickle
Married Groups Director and Intersect Team Member
PS – If you want to get involved in the flood relief efforts, Samaritan’s Purse has extended their stay in Atlanta through November 21. They need volunteers to continue helping clean up peoples’ homes that were damaged in the flood. If you’d like to help, contact their Dallas, GA, site at 678-202-5974.
On behalf of Franklin Graham and our teams in the Atlanta area, thank you for responding to those in need. Your gifts, prayers, and service are greatly appreciated. As of November 1st Samaritan’s Purse volunteers have completed 223 work orders in the area. Your giving has helped to make that possible.
Darren Mullenix
Donor Ministries
Samaritan’s Purse