Greene Publishing, Inc. Photo By Ashley Hunter, October 8, 2016
Rick Lange from Amazing Horse Ministries was out, sans his usual horse, at the Reach Madison event on Saturday, Oct. 8. Lange provided a witness to the event's attendants as well as handcrafted faith bracelets that he made right there at the event. Pictured, from left to right, are: Shirley Jackson, Envy Hammon, Essence Hampton, and Rick Lange.
Greene Publishing, Inc. Photo By Ashley Hunter, October 8, 2016
Smokers filled with meat poured out smoke, making the air around Four Freedoms Park, where Reach Madison was held on Saturday, Oct. 8, smell like a barbeque gathering.
Ashley Hunter - Greene Publishing, Inc.
Multiple churches, 1,000 meals, and a fleet of big black meat smokers filled the area around Four Freedoms Park with laughter, conversation, and the smell of fresh BBQ.
On Saturday, Oct. 8 at Four Freedoms Park, a Reach Madison Community Day started at 10 a.m. and only stopped when the work was done.
The event, organized by Timmy Dyke, was held as a way for church members to “get outside the walls of their church” and “share Jesus with the community,” according to Dyke.
Everyone, from all walks of life and any faith, were invited to the community day, where there was free popcorn, bounce houses, faith bracelets and BBQ meals.
The event provided a place for various local churches to interact with each other, but it quickly turned into a way for members of the church to witness and share Jesus with the community.
Churches and volunteers were invited to come and participate in the event by setting up their own booths or helping serve meals and distribute the prepared meals.
According to Dyke, 1,000 meals were donated to South Florida evacuees who were being sheltered at New Testament Christian Center, to various businesses around Madison and shut-ins who weren't able to leave their homes, amongst others. The group also fed all the on-duty staff at the Madison Correctional Institution.
“It drew so many people from so many backgrounds together for the same purpose,” said Dyke. While serving meals or standing shoulder to shoulder cooking chicken, it didn't matter what color skin your neighbor had, or what church they attended. “Everybody was worn out at the end of the day,” said Dyke. “But they had fun.”
Giving away the plates of food helped many of the churches get up close to the needs of the community as they delivered food to lower income individuals, those shut into their homes or to the elderly at a local senior home.
The event was definitely a success; churches interacted with churches and the body of Madison County's believers was able to gain an insight into the lives of others around the community while helping to serve.