Spring Into Action

"He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”   Jeremiah 17:8

This weekend, people all around the world are celebrating Earth Day by planting trees and flowers and talking about ways we can improve our environment.  Most cities and towns will have some type of community event, inviting everyone out to talk about how we can be better stewards of our natural resources.

As Christians, we know that God is the creator of all things in heaven and on Earth, and we believe that not only should we be good stewards of the earth He has given us, but also sowers of seeds in His kingdom, reaching out to those less fortunate and inviting them to share the love of the Lord.

On Friday and Saturday, the Mission Athens team joined forces with the Central Youth Ministry for "Spring Into Action" weekend.  During this event, our members worked side by side with our teens to plant flowers, spread mulch, and beautify two different areas in our community, Fifth Avenue Apartments and Houston Court apartments. 

A few months ago, the City of Athens Federal Housing Coordinator, Mr. Pippens, came and spoke with our Mission Athens team about ways we can best serve residents in the federal housing areas.  The idea for this project during our Spring Into Action weekend was born at that meeting, and many volunteers worked tirelessly to make the weekend a success.

Members at Central Church of Christ donated shrubs, bulbs, plants, and mulch as well as contributing other donations to help our youth have the materials they needed for the project.  Additionally, our youth team planned activities and games for the residents to enjoy as we invited members of these communities to come out and get to know us throughout the weekend.

It was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun, as we got to know some of our neighbors and rolled up our sleeves together to improve our community. 

What a beautiful sight to behold--God's children ages 8 to 80 working together side by side in His kingdom to make our little corner of His earth, Athens, Alabama, just a little bit more beautiful.  We thank God for the opportunity He has given us to serve our community, and a huge THANK YOU to all the volunteers who worked so hard to plant seeds of His love in our little town!