FUMC prayer outreach extends invitation
Published 3:46 pm Monday, May 31, 2021
- The Pierces with FUMC Prayer Outreach.
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Those who believe in the power of prayer and the strength of community are invited to join members and friends of Greenville’s First United Methodist Church each Wednesday night.
The church is working to create prayer teams for various parts of Camellia City, including city government, churches, businesses and residents alike, and to conduct prayer walks in the community. The teams will meet each Wednesday night at the church’s fellowship hall at 6 p.m. Some of those will go out into the community to visit and share in prayer.
Ron Pierce of FUMC and his wife Margaret are very excited over the possibilities presented by this new outreach. ”We divide up into small groups and devote our attention to the needs of our community beyond our church’s doors. We welcome anyone of any denomination to come and join us,” Pierce said.
Andy Perry, the pastor at FUMC, is equally excited about the new ministry. ”I am passionate about people, all people. I believe the church’s mission is to go out and reach out to all people. That’s what Jesus did,” Perry said. ”We need to show them we love them and that ultimately, we are all part of one family, regardless of race, gender, denomination and so forth.”
Perry said the church began its prayer walk outreach in earnest last week in Greenville and described it as a powerful blessing. ”We went out and knocked on doors, met neighbors we didn’t know, had great prayer time with folks and simply showed our community neighbors that we at Greenville FUMC care about them,” Perry said.
“We even had our two special young ladies, missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints join our prayer walk. You don’t have to be a member of FUMC or even a Methodist—you just have to love Jesus and love your community.”
The Pierces said they are especially appreciative of the leadership shown by Perry during the difficult days of COVID. ”He came here right about the time the pandemic hit. He arranged for us to be able to attend services outdoors in Dr. Aubrey Stabler’s pecan orchard and he shared his sermons on the church’s Facebook page. He also came to visit us when Margaret was going through some serious health issues,” Pierce said. ”We feel like he really assisted us in a closer walk with Jesus during this hard time. He leads by example and truly practices what he preaches.”
For Perry, it comes down to this: if you want things to change for the better, you can’t sit on the sidelines. You have to be part of the process. ”If you want change in your church, if you want change in your community, if you want revival, renewal, restoration, deliverance, it happens when the people of God come together and begin to pray, and to pray with their neighbor,” Perry said. “Communities change when they see the church cares, loves and is willing to go out there and say, ’hello.’ Please consider coming and joining us on Wednesday nights at 6 p.m.”
The church is located at 112 Adams Street, Greenville, AL 36037. For more information, please call 334-382-5872 or email office@fumcgreenville.org.
