Posted: 5/30/03
Young and old harmonize on Richardson ministry
By George Henson
Staff Writer
RICHARDSON–Youth and senior adults joined hands at First Baptist Church of Richardson on a recent weekend to work in 15 area homes.
More than 120 members of the junior high and senior adult choirs cooperated with four Sunday School departments to assist widows, the disabled and families of men deployed for military service with work around their houses.
| Alexandria Evans cleans a window in the home of church member who needed a helping hand this spring. She was among 120 youth and senior adults from First Baptist Church of Richardson participating in Fix-Sings, a combination missions and music effort. |
The project, called “Fix-Sings,” concluded with a hotdog dinner and concert at the church. Workers young and old who participated invited residents of the homes where they had worked to join them for the evening.
Unlike many church home-repair mission projects, this one did not target the poor but rather church members with special needs.
For example, the volunteers aided the family of man deployed by the military.
“The lady in that house was so appreciative of our help. We trimmed trees and took care of the lawn, so now when her husband comes home he can spend time with his family instead of taking care of those sort of things,” said Gerald Ware, associate minister of music and minister to senior adults.
Young adult Sunday School members took care of work on ladders outside while the junior high students and senior adult choir members worked indoors.
The project was both helpful and insightful, Ware said.
“It opens the eyes of kids to ministry. Often we send kids out of state to do ministry, but here they saw that ministry opportunities are right in their own backyards. And when we asked them what they thought at the end of the day, almost every one said, 'It was fun.'”
The day also helped foster intergenerational relationships, he said. The Goldenaires, the senior adult choir, adopts high school choir members for each choir mission trip, so that they can pray for them daily. On this project, they established links with younger youth.
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| Keith McCormick ( above) takes the high road while James Coker takes the low road on an outdoor cleaning project. At right, workers cover both sides of a large window | |
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