BETTER TOGETHER | Operation Restoration

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour” (Ecclesiastes 4:9).
January 15 was a special day at Sneads Free Will Baptist Church in Sneads, Florida. On that day, the Sneads Church and other surrounding churches celebrated the renovation of the church. However, many other important and sometimes difficult days led up to this special day.

One such moment came during a meeting of the Salem Association when pastor Charles Johnson asked Pastor Tim Hamblen how he and the Sneads Church were doing. Pastor Hamblen thought for a minute and then presented some of the difficulties he and his congregation were experiencing.

The Salem Mission Board began to think of ways they could work together to support this church.
On many different days after that, people from area churches joined with Sneads Church members to work on the needs of their facility. The Florida Mission Board provided financial resources, and after much hard work, Salem emerged with a beautifully restored facility dedicated on January 15.

Hopefully, this is just the beginning. Sneads Church has been studying the results of the Know Your Community report and participating in The Hope Initiative through Church Answers. The hope is this restoration process will not only encourage the Sneads Church family but also better position them to reach their community with the gospel. (See Duane Littlefield's article on pages 24-25.)

The Salem Association Model

The example of the Salem Association and Sneads Church could become a model for all Free Will Baptists. Recently, Ken Akers suggested Disaster Response Teams and churches across the nation consider engaging in similar activities to help churches (though not on the scale of the Sneads renovation).

For example, churches could partner to help other area churches experiencing facility challenges through small repairs. They could share the same encouragement and camaraderie the Salem Association and Sneads FWB Church experienced by coming together for a workday to help another church with landscaping, power washing, painting, and other small repairs. Some sprucing up, followed by Know Your Community, The Hope Initiative, Boot Camp on the Road, and Rekindle coaching could restore churches that need help and encouragement. (And you might find it surprising how helping another church might just help your own!)

What do you think? If the idea of Operation Restoration resonates with you, email questions@nafwb.org and share your interest. If you could use a helping hand like Sneads, email us at questions@nafwb.org, and we will see what we can do.

Churches across North America encounter similar problems that do not have to be faced alone. Let’s come together to help one another because we are truly better together.

About the columnist: Eddie Moody is the executive secretary of the National Association of Free Will Baptists.