Today kicked off our 4 day mission trip to Cleveland, Ohio. The team is led by myself and teen sponsors, Terry Lyden and Brandy Taylor. GBC teens participating are: Jon Wittmer, Sam Muckley, Rachel Muckley, Jordan Lyden, and Karis Ryan.
Although we didn’t come far to go to Cleveland for our missions trip, the culture we were dropped into is very different than what we are used to in our daily lives. We had lunch at Grace Baptist Church (Westlake) and then headed out to Faith Baptist Community Center. We spent the afternoon preparing for the “Fun Day” (a carnival type event we will be hosting for children in the community tomorrow afternoon.) We divided into groups of 4 and went out into the low income housing areas surrounding the Community Center to pass out invitations to the event. We were able to pass out about 300 flyers to children and parents. All the kids said they were coming, but realistically we are hoping for around 60 tomorrow.
After a dinner of pizza, we headed to Public Square in downtown Cleveland. There we had a chance to hand out 40 dinners to the homeless who gather there at night. We used the opportunity to invite them to a meal and church service on Sunday. From Public Square, we went on an hour or so, walking tour of the area that City View Baptist Church ministers in. City View Missionary, Bill Taylor, gave us a perspective on their approach to ministry in showing us 3 different locations they minister to, all within walking distance of the Wyndam hotel, where they meet for church on Sunday mornings. Although growth has been slow, they have built many relationships with those in the city, as they have showed Christ’s love to the hurting in the city.
It was a later night, as we got back to the church around 10:15 pm. We are looking forward to a more relaxed morning tomorrow (pancake breakfast, team devotions, and West Side Market) and then will host the “fun day” for the afternoon. Be in prayer for the children who come – that we can give the message of salvation through the wordless book and the love we can show each child.
