Disir
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- Sep 30, 2011
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Downtown churches struggling to find their niche in ministry may want to try what First Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn., has done—look and listen.
Paying attention to young voices within its membership and to underserved needs downtown, the congregation launched a shower ministry in October 2013 that has surprised and inspired the members of the congregation.
...The ministry expanded when a local politician donated two washing machines and two dryers to the ministry, which were added to the units the church already had. This enables someone to shower and have laundry done at First Baptist.
Six months ago, the church started offering haircuts by volunteers from a local cosmetology school.
“And we have one guy who comes in to provide massages,” Hooper said. “Last Thursday, we had 18 haircuts, 12 showers, 13 who did laundry and three to four who got massages.”
Baptist church finds downtown niche in shower ministry
It's the simple things that help restore the self. Showers and clean clothes mean a lot.
Housing means more with 24/7 access means much more. Just saying.
Paying attention to young voices within its membership and to underserved needs downtown, the congregation launched a shower ministry in October 2013 that has surprised and inspired the members of the congregation.
...The ministry expanded when a local politician donated two washing machines and two dryers to the ministry, which were added to the units the church already had. This enables someone to shower and have laundry done at First Baptist.
Six months ago, the church started offering haircuts by volunteers from a local cosmetology school.
“And we have one guy who comes in to provide massages,” Hooper said. “Last Thursday, we had 18 haircuts, 12 showers, 13 who did laundry and three to four who got massages.”
Baptist church finds downtown niche in shower ministry
It's the simple things that help restore the self. Showers and clean clothes mean a lot.
Housing means more with 24/7 access means much more. Just saying.
