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By: Erin Smith
There is a contagious excitement growing at Tar Heel Baptist Church in Tar Heel.
Sunday School Director Leon Martin said that Rev. Devon Varnam had read a book about how one church changed its concept of what church is and how mission and service should look through its Sunday school program. Martin said Varnam shared the book with him and they both agreed the concept might just work at THBC.
“After reading the book, I came back to him and said we need to try it,” said Martin.
Martin and Varnam began introducing the concept to the Sunday school classes and soon turned the concept of Sunday school and what it should consist of upside down by some standards.
Colon Roberts said that among the members who agreed to sit down with Bladen Online to discuss the radical changes taking place in their congregation, he said there was about 200 years of Sunday school experience present that evening.
Roberts said some of the members have attended church their entire lives.
“We’ve finally stepped into the direction of what God wants us to do,” said Roberts.
The Sunday school classes consist of the Faith Class, Fellowship Explorers, Yong Adult Men, College and Career, and Baptist Women.
The classes began to explore what they felt their strengths and passions were and how they could best use them in outreach ministries. One Sunday, Varnam said he offered the congregation a chance to come forward and demonstrate their commitment by signing a sort of pledge. It is more of a motto that reads Tar Heel Baptist Church Connect-Grow-Share, Matthew 28:18-20. This forms a basis for the outreach teams and ministries.
While stepping out in faith can be nerve wracking, several members said they had found the experience to be a positive one.
Carmin Russ said the College and Career Class decided to visit and minister to the men at Carolina Crossroads.
“Each one of us took a leap of faith and decided to teach a lesson,” said Russ.
She said through their work with Carolina Crossroads the members of the College and Career class learn that some people lead lifestyles that are different from their own. Russ said the stories that group has heard have been both inspirational as well as heartbreaking.
The church has also hosted the School Improvement Team to come and talk to the members about what the schools need.
The church also participated in the Back Pack program where the members pack about 30 back packs with food items for students to take home. The church has also developed a bond with Tar Heel Middle School.
The Faith Class visited the residents of Highland Acres and delivered 25 lap throws. The members brought the lap throws.
“We decided we wanted to do something else,” said Inez Allen.
Allen said that as they discussed what to do next, Hospice came up. She said that Southeastern Hospice keeps a list on their website of things they need at the Hospice and the group decided they could help.
Allen said the group worked to gather up the items needed and then delivered them.
Another area where the congregation is reaching out to the community is through preparing meals and taking them to those that are shut in and can’t get out.
The church members also go out and visit with folks in the community, just to check on them and let them know that someone is thinking about them.
The church also hosts a Released Time class at the church and the church also uses social media platforms such as Facebook to reach out to the community.
The men’s classes have busied themselves building wheel chair ramps for folks and assisting the Bladen Baptist Association.
The church also feeds the football and basketball teams from West Bladen High School.
Since the embarking on the new method of doing outreach through Sunday school, everyone gathered agreed that there has been a distinct change in the church.
Several said that the outreach has been a learning experience.
“For my class it has been an eye opener. We are all from different walks of life and all take part in mission work. No matter what age, you can still do mission work,” said Russ.
The church also prepared Thanksgiving dinner for the men at Carolina Crossroads.
The church has also offered a course called Financial Peace.
“We learned that a lot of people were in debt,” said Varnam. He added that the course teaches folks about debt and how to free themselves from it. Varnam said that Martin lead the class for the church.
There is also discussion about taking an international mission trip to either El Salvador or Puerto Rico.
The excitement at the church is evident in their eagerness to share their story.
“My goal is not to become a megachurch, just to be a healthy church and love Jesus Christ,” said Varnam.
“Inez and I are retired middle school teachers. This is life giving. Sharing Christ makes you a part of His body. It is life giving to the person doing the mission,” said Ann Sessoms.
Everyone agreed that everybody who has chosen to take part in the outreach have drawn closer to each other.
There is much, much more happening at the church. If you want to learn more about Tar Heel Baptist Church you can visit them at 521 Tar Heel Ferry Road in Tar Heel. For more information visit their website at: http://www.tarheelbaptistchurch.com/
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