More than 70 community groups will be at Bayshore Baptist on Sunday to recruit helpers.
By ELISABETH DYER, Times Staff Writer
Published October 28, 2005
It began with a commitment by members at Bayshore Baptist Church to share the gifts God has given them.
So they decided to gather a group of diverse agencies that need volunteers.
"The idea is to find what it is that you're passionate about," said Nancy Burke, minister of congregational life. More than 70 church and community groups will showcase their work during the Community Ministry Fair on Sunday at the church, 3111 W Morrison Ave. The fair runs from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and noon to 1:30 p.m. A worship service is from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Extra parking is available at the Academy of the Holy Names, which will have a shuttle to Bayshore Baptist.
Each agency will have a booth inside the church or in a tent outside where representatives will answer questions, hand out brochures and explain their mission. Church officials encourage each member as well as others in the community to commit to serving one of the groups.
"We wanted to focus on more than giving of our financial resources but giving time and ourselves," Burke said.
Community representatives will include Francis House Inc., which serves HIV infected and affected men, women and children; Guardian ad Litem, which represents the interests of children involved in court cases alleging abuse or neglect by their parents or guardians; and Meals on Wheels, which delivers daily hot meals to the elderly, disabled and homebound. Florida Blood Services will set up a mobile unit for people who want to donate blood.
Ongoing church ministries at Bayshore Baptist include serving meals to the homeless at Faith Cafe, sponsoring a family evacuated from New Orleans and supporting missions trips to Romania to serve Gypsy families. For those who participate, it's a life-changing experience, Burke said.
"The stories that we hear of the blessing they receive - sometimes they feel like they're more on the side of receiving than giving," she said.
Elisabeth Dyer can be reached at edyer@sptimes.com or 226-3321. WHO'S THERE
Here are some of the agencies participating in Bayshore Baptist's Community Ministry Fair:
