August 14, 2011
Currently about 1 in 4 families in our congregation lives in Comstock township. That’s not a particularly high percentage. But having our building located adjacent to Comstock High School gives our congregation a certain level of visibility in Comstock. With that visibility comes a responsibility to, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 5:16 NASB).
During 2011 we have been looking for ways to serve people in Comstock. Here are some of the things we’ve done thus far.
- In February, we worked with RBM Ministries to host a monthly “release time” Bible class for children who attend Comstock North Elementary school. We plan to resume this ministry again this fall.
- In May, we offered Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University for people throughout the township. The Comstock Community Center promoted the class through their newsletter mailed out to every home in the township.
- In June, we ran the children’s game area at the Comstock Daze Family Festival. The festival is a community effort to raise funds for the Great Lakes Burn Camp.
This month we have a new opportunity to serve our neighbors in Comstock. The Comstock Community Center would like to provide backpacks filled with school supplies to “high-risk” children who are starting school this fall. These are kids who live at or below the poverty level. Many are from single parent households. Some have a parent incarcerated.
At this time of year local stores sell school supplies at very low prices, so we would like to see how many filled backpacks we can gather as a church family by the end of August.
Here’s what the Community Center would like to provide to children:
- A small backpack for 4-5 year old (big enough for a set of clothes in case of accidents/getting dirty)
- Tissue packets
- Pencils
- A folder for carrying papers to and from school
- Glue stick(s)
- Crayons
- A large eraser
- Spiral notebook
- Washable markers
- A ruler
– Bryan Craddock
UPDATE
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Thank you for letting God work through all of you to provide 52 backpacks full of school supplies for at-risk children starting school in Comstock this year! Pray that some of the families might join us for our Kids’ Day event next Sunday.