MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – “We’re here because of Jesus’ love and what he’s done for us by dying on the cross for our sins. I mean, that’s the number one message we want people to hear. (bell rings in distance, people cheer) As you hear a bell ring, that’s what that means. Somebody just repented of their sins and gave their life to Jesus and we celebrate that. That’s the number one thing,” said Northcrest Baptist Church student pastor Caleb Monaghan.
This week marks the beginning of the annual Love Out Loud ministry spearheaded by Northcrest Baptist Church in Meridian.
The volunteer based event dedicates a week to various mission projects throughout the local community and is made up of several local churches throughout Lauderdale County and beyond.
Monday, volunteers provided free food and clothes to the Western Gardens neighborhood.
“As a church, many times a church is inward focused, and we need to be more outward focused. Jesus called us to go. So, that’s why we go outside the walls of the church. If you’ll notice on that mobile grill, on the side it says ‘the church has left the building.’ That’s what we’ve got to do. We’ve got to go out to where the people are and share Christ,” said grilling and clothing ministry coordinator Greg Newell.
Organizers said they hope this event gives community members are more positive mindset.
“You know, let everybody know we’re here together. We’re one community. While we may hear things that are suppose to make us be more separated, we’re here to say we’re unified. We’re unified and we want to be unified under the name of Jesus. So, we’re here just to tell people about Jesus’ love, but also just to walk across the street and let everybody know we’re in this together, and I think everybody here wants the same thing. We all want our community to be a good, safe environment, but we want to be here and we want to be unified,” said Monaghan.
Those in attendance say they hope this unification becomes a lifestyle.
“So, that’s what we hope. It becomes a part of your DNA. That you go, when you to go work, when you go to school, when you go to Walmart, where ever you are, you’re sharing the good news of Jesus, and you’re loving on people the way Jesus loved them,” said Newell.
Everyone is encouraged to participate in Love Out Loud, no matter if or where you go to church.
“Anybody who wants to be involved, you don’t have to work all week. You don’t have to work all day. You can come serve for an hour,” said Monaghan.
“The church is really one body in Jesus Christ. So, we’ve go to come together. If we’re going to reach this world, a lost an dying world, we’re going to have to come together, said Newell.
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