These churches give a different meaning to "church service" for the community

By Jeff Dawsey
| 12:00 p.m. October 12, 2016

Sonia Jimenez, Annabelle Baker and Jessica Dawsey

The American Red Cross and Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Team are still assisting the community with hot showers and food in the First Baptist Church of Palm Coast parking lot.

Parkview Baptist Church sent out 150 of its members to assist with hurricane preparations and recovery. Courtesy photos

Tim Fleenor

Corbin Payne, Jonathan Ballard, Leah Adams, Isaac Trawick

Matthew Harding, Jeff Haynes and Cody Anderson

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

Local churches – on separate missions – have worked tirelessly to, first, help prepare for Hurricane Matthew and are now assisting in its recovery.

Parkview Baptist Church, Epic Church, First Baptist Church of Bunnell and First Baptist Church of Palm Coast have sent their members out to help clean yards, feed the hungry, cut down trees and so much more.

“In a world where everyone is out for themselves, we have surrendered ourselves to put others first,” said Eric Trawick, senior pastor at First Baptist of Bunnell.

Parkview has had 150 people help with services either before or after the storm.

“Many of the people we helped were single moms, elderly, and handicapped,” said Greg Peters, Parkview’s senior pastor. “Our desire was to share the love of Jesus and to help those who could use a hand. One family we served were quoted $8,000 from a tree service. There was no way they could afford that, so we sent volunteers for free. They were ecstatic.”

Epic recruited its members to go around and help with the homes of friends and family, but it overflowed into neighbors’ yards.

First Baptist Church of Palm Coast is currently housing the American Red Cross and the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Team in its building and parking lot area.

The two programs have set up shower buildings and food stations to feed those in the church’s community, academy and in the Upward basketball program.

Those looking for assistance with water damage, mold remediation, roofing, blue tarp, and tree and yard cleanup can call 304-400-2598.