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| FORD CITY THRIFT STORE HELP CENTER |
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| Back to: BRO BRYAN'S DESKTOP |
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| Pastors: Bryan McIntyre Sally Harris Jim Napp Gerald Carnes |
| Patricia Marshall, a member of Shady Grove UMC, says the Ford City Thrift Store / Help Center is a miracle which has unfolded in a small rural community in Colbert County Alabama It is also a testament to the connectional ministry when churches work together in unity. It began two and half years ago with a pastor and a few churches that dreamed of a "benevolence ministry." They envisioned a thrift store and help center for the community made possible by area churches coming together, working together to minister to those who needed a helping hand. Marshall says, "Some took it to prayer, while others thought it was a good idea but would never happen. Then last summer we began looking for a place for the store and help center." At the time, there were five churches - Shady Grove UMC , Lakeview Highland UMC, Leighton UMC< Town Creek UMC and Blythe Memorial UMC - involved in the development of the store. They located a building and were planning to be open by September 1, However plans changed when thieves broke in vandalizing the building, ripping out all the electrical and copper wiring. It would take $20,000 to repair the building and the newly formed ministry did not have it. One of the pastors stated "This is not going to stop us. It is just a bump in the road, a challenge that we will overcome." A newspaper article and TV coverage about the theft and damage to the building created public interest in this ministry and its mission of giving. Marshal says, "God was in this! The members of this ministry were called to continue in prayer for God's leading , , , pray for a possible alternative." Soon a local businessman offered a building for half-rent which was in a better location and overall was a better building. So the ministry was able to move ahead. As of May 2008, the ministry has put nearly $32,000 back into the community and surrounding area since December 2007. Volunteers from the involved churches work in the store during the week. They take in canned goods for the local food pantry as well as donations of clothing, furniture and household items. Everything in the store is sold at a very low price to bless the community and customers. Then all funds over the store rent and expenses are put back into the community and surrounding area, the Store helps families pay their utilities, medical bills, rent, provides for food and gasoline. We have also assisted recent tornado victims, mission work, new church support and the list goes on. Marshall says, the ministry's commission is to help others through our resources for God's Kingdom and His Service, She adds, God is blessing our unity and the spirit of cooperation and the community is reaping the benefits and also being blessed." |
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I am a part of this ministry and I just praise God for all he has done in this thrift store. We have been able to help so many families and I get as much of a blessing from it as the people we help. We appreciate everyone that donates items to the store because this is what makes it possible for us to help others. We can get down to not having anything to put on our selves and within a couple of hours we are filling our storage room again... praise God. Please pray for the store. If you haven't come to Ford City to visit us please do and pray about becoming apart of the ministry. You will be blessed. Paulette Bennett. |
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| Northwest area churches celebrate a miracle of unity and provide ministry to community |
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| Eye has not seen the things that God has prepared for those who love him and are called according to His purposes! |