GO Week LocaL: Love in action

By Samantha DePriest

Each year, our GO Week local teams serve in and around our community, helping to meet the needs that our nonprofit and ministry partners address for residents. There are so many people hurting right here in our hometown, and our students have the opportunity to serve and make a positive impact. TCS missions teams arrived at our main campus bright and early each morning for a time of prayer together led by Mr. Blake Bass, Assistant Head of School. They then loaded into buses and vans and traveled to four different local ministries: A.O. House at FBC Newnan, Backpack Buddies, Bridging the Gap, and St. Peter’s Church in Atlanta.

The purpose of the A.O House at First Baptist Newnan is “to show God’s love to those in our community who are in need. The goal is to help them through difficult times by providing food and clothing. They are told of God’s everlasting gift – Jesus Christ.” They are located right behind First Baptist Church in downtown Newnan and able to serve members in the community within both driving and walking distance of the church.

While serving at the A.O. House, our students assisted church members in sorting donated food into individual take home bags and bringing them out to members in the community. After loading their cars, they asked if there were any specific prayer requests and prayed right there with them. Meanwhile other students assisted in sorting donated clothing items in their shopping closet. Each shopper was able to choose items of clothing and shoes for each member of their family. If you and your family are interested in being a part of what God is doing at the A.O House, details can be found on their website: www.fbcnewnan.org/ministries/the-ao-house-mission-center/.

Backpack Buddies “exists to supply economically disadvantaged children in Coweta County with food for the weekend.” During their time there, our students assisted in packing over 1,000 bags of food that will be distributed to schools for students to take home as well as helped unload a van load of donations to be sorted in the warehouse. If you and your family are interested in plugging in and serving, various volunteer opportunities can be found on their website: https://backpackbuddiesga.org/volunteer

Just a few blocks away, another team of our students was serving at Bridging the Gap. The heart of Bridging the Gap since their start in 2009 has been “that everyone deserves support during difficult times. Our mission is to assist those who are struggling to make ends meet through a compassionate, three-step approach: 1. Feed: Providing nutritious meals and food supplies. 2. Serve: Connecting individuals to essential resources and services. 3. Restore: Helping families rebuild stability and self-sufficiency. Our mission to bridge the gap for those in our community.”

Our students spent several hours each day serving in the warehouse sorting donated food items both non-perishable and frozen foods. If you and your family would like to volunteer or donate to Bridging the Gap, details can be found on their website at: www.btgcommunity.org/how-you-can-help

Lastly, a team of students traveled up to Atlanta to serve at St. Peter’s Church. Our students worked hard to help deep clean the church. The Pastor was so impressed by our students’ work ethic and shared words of encouragement with our mission team about how their helping to provide a clean, fresh space for the congregation to study God’s word and worship would help show the love of Christ to them. Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest impact.

Each of these local partners expressed their sincere appreciation for our teams' help, both this year and in previous years. They emphasized how crucial the time and service our school community provides, leaving a lasting impact. May the hearts of those who were served be encouraged and reminded that they are loved and prayed for. And may opportunities like these continue to shape and mold the hearts and minds of our students into servant leaders for Christ.