First Baptist Church in Coeburn held the grand opening for its Hope Center on Oct. 27.
The Hope Center Ministry began as a vision one year ago with a desire to utilize a large empty space in the church that had been recently renovated. The fruition of that vision is a ministry that provides food, clothing, blankets, household items, hygiene items and other needs.
Out of this ministry has also grown a minor home repair ministry called Building Hope, in cooperation with other local churches, and a ministry for parents of newborns called New Blessings. The Hope Center Ministry is now connected with the Appalachian Regional Ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board
To date churches from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, as well as Virginia, have helped by sending teams to work in the community and by stocking the Hope Center with needed supplies.
First Baptist, Coeburn's, Hope Center meets needs of the community.
Katrina Mann, the church's missions coordinator, shared with the congregation that prior to the grand opening of the Hope Center 350 food bags, 120 school supply kits, 200 New Testaments, 5,000 pounds of seed potatoes, 360 hygiene kits, 30 boxes of household supplies, 100 newborn baby kits, eight large trash bags of stuffed animals for children and an incredibly large amount of clothing, shoes, bedding and kitchen items had already been distributed in a span of six months.
With the help of teams from other churches several backyard Bible clubs were held in the community as well as three block parties. Ten homes have had minor repair work completed with the help of church teams and the Building Hope Ministry. Over half of the Coeburn area has been prayer walked and two Christian concerts held in the town's outdoor amphitheater.
On the day of the grand opening over 200 people came to receive food, clothing and other needs. The Hope Center is open two days each week and in two weeks time over 100 people have been served.
“The Lord is doing an amazing ministry in a small church in a small Appalachian community,” said pastor R.J. Rose.
Churches and individuals are invited to partner with this ministry and can find more information on the Appalachian Regional Ministry Web site.