Local pastor poses a question, "Would the community miss the church if it disappeared?"

Yes, church congregations should be making a difference in their community-but is that always the case? Sometimes churches can be so busy inside their four walls doing programs, ministries, meetings, social, and recreational activities that there can be an exclusion of the needs around them.

Sometimes the communities around them only know of their existence if they drive by their facility. Some churches take mission trips to faraway countries and forget about those individuals, and families in their own neighborhoods.

When Pastor Jay Palmer of Tacoma, Washington, USA, asked his congregation a simple question, it put the church body into action at a school just across the street.

Peggy Walker secretary of Clover Creek Elementary wrote: "One thing that I thought was a good story point was the reason for the initial wanting to volunteer at Clover Creek."

She continued, "I was told that the church asked the question--would the community miss the church if it disappeared? So they decided to volunteer at the neighboring school to try to impact students in their community."

After recruiting many church members to volunteer, the principal saw that this church made a significant difference and wanted to recognize them for it.

On Tuesday, March 8, 2011, Bethel School District awarded the pastor, "Outstanding School Volunteer of the Year" at Clover Creek Elementary.

May all churches reach out of the four walls of their facility and help, touch, and rescue the community in any area where a need arises.

Simple church beyond walls video: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/video/video.php?v=10150151082351788&oid=199708490054679&comments

Read the application the principal filled out that won the pastor the honor of "Outstanding School Volunteer." http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/8427688-local-pastor-wins-outstanding-school-volunteer-of-the-year-at-bethel-school-districts-clover-creek-elementary-school-in-tacoma-wa-usa

Crossroads Church: http://www.crossroads-wa.org/default.asp?PageName=pastor.htm

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