Haddock Baptist Church traded its traditional Sunday schedule for service April 27, participating in a community wide “Go and Serve” Day.
Inspired by Galatians 5:13, “…serve one another humbly in love,” the congregation chose to live out their faith beyond the church walls by becoming the hands and feet of Christ throughout Jones and Baldwin Counties.
There were over 110 participants ranging in age from 4 years old to 88 years old.
The day began at 8:30 a.m. with a shared breakfast, followed by a devotion and a charge to serve delivered by Dr. Hambric Brooks, Pastor of Haddock Baptist Church. Dr. Brooks encouraged participants with these words: “You might think, ‘baking cookies doesn’t seem like a big deal.’ Or, ‘Building a handicap ramp is just construction work.’
But let me tell you — when the Holy Spirit is in it, small acts become sacred acts. When you pull weeds in someone’s yard today, you’re pulling up weeds of discouragement. When you hammer nails into a ramp, you’re building a bridge for someone to experience dignity and freedom. When you pack a meal, you aren’t just filling a stomach — you’re filling a heart with hope. When you smile, listen, or pray over a home — you are the sermon people will hear today. You are the scripture someone will read today.
You are the face of Jesus someone may encounter today.”
After singing together, praying, and commissioning the teams, the congregation dispersed across the area to serve.
In total, twelve projects were completed, including:
• Plantingtreesand performing yard maintenance for senior adults and families in need.
• Beautifyingdowntown Haddock in partnership with Keep Jones Beautiful and Haddock Revitalization groups.
• Buildingtwowheelchair ramps to provide accessibility for individuals with mobility challenges.
• Packing 108 meal kits— enough to feed families of four—for donation to Jordan Chapel and Sonrise Ministry food banks.
• Delivering35dozen cookies to local healthcare workers at Lynn Haven Health and Rehabilitation, Autumn Lane Health and Rehabilitation, Jones County Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Gray Police Department.
• Writing200cardsand letters of encouragement for prisoners through the Kairos Prison Ministry, senior adults participating in the Monday Meals program (a joint monthly meal ministry for senior adults with Jordan Chapel and Haddock Baptist Churches), and local shut-ins and individuals recovering from illness or surgery.
• Distributingfoodto local shut-ins, and placing banners in nursing homes to share the love of Christ with residents.
• Groupprayeroverthe project, individual participants, and people impacted with the gospel of service.
The “Go and Serve” planning team began preparations in January, identifying projects, coordinating supplies, and praying over the event to ensure its success. Their dedication helped create a meaningful and impactful day of service for everyone involved. Special thanks are extended to those who helped offset project costs and provided critical support to make the day a success: Ingles, Hamrick Building Supplies, Keep Jones Beautiful, River of Life Church, Fowler Flemister Concrete, and the Jones County Sheriff’s Department. Their contributions played an essential role in bringing the vision of community service to life.
Many Christians are eager to serve in distant places — the “ends of the earth” mentioned in Acts 1:8 — but Haddock Baptist Church was reminded that ministry begins in their own backyard. On Sunday, they made a lasting difference in their “Jerusalem” of Jones and Baldwin Counties, embodying the love of Christ through acts of humble service.
It was truly a great day to be the church in the community.
