Servant of All
As the church, we seek to be Christ's hands and feet; we seek to be the physical tools through which Christ currently works. As a result, we desire to meet the needs of our community in various ways. We try to pray for those who need prayer. We try to give food to those who need food. We try to serve those who need our service. Basically, we try to love those who need love.
When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment in the Law was, Jesus' reply was simple; he said,
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Our vision is to be and do that very thing: to love God first and foremost and then to love everyone else in the same ways that we love ourselves and wish to be loved.
Chico
In Our Community
Out of our desire to show Jesus' love in our community, we began hosting special events each year and inviting our friends and neighbors to come, with no obligations from our guests other than a willingness to get to know us and allow us to get to know them. Our first such event was a Neighborhood Barbecue held to reach out in friendship to our neighbors. We have continued with the BBQ each year since and have added annual Thanksgiving Dinner and "Trunk-or-Treat" events as well. All are invited to join us in these fun, family-oriented occasions.
Neighborhood BBQ
Each year, on a Wednesday evening in June, we offer a Neighborhood Barbecue with hamburgers, hot dogs, and fixings. Tables are set up in the church parking lot for our guests and church members to share a meal together to start the summer off right. It has been such a blessing to get to know our neighbors through this effort.
Trunk or Treat
On the night before Halloween, our church members park their vehicles in the church parking lot, decorate them and pass out candy and treats to all who come our way. The response to this has been overwhelming! It brings us joy to see the excitement and delight on the faces of so many kids and their parents. We have also been blessed in recent years to have the Multicultural Greek Council from Chico State University volunteer to help us with this event.
Community Thanksgiving Dinner
On a Sunday night leading up to Thanksgiving, we provide a Thanksgiving Dinner for anyone who would like to come share this meal with us. Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls, dessert and drinks - Yum! Tables are set up in the Fellowship Hall and Auditorium for enjoying this meal together - prepared and served with love by members of the congregation.
Local Organizations We Support
Jesus Center
The Jesus Center is a non-profit organization founded in God’s love.
In response to the complexity of homelessness, hunger and poverty, they work with our community to restore those suffering from isolation to community integration.
"In all that we do and all we call others to, we do in compliance with the command of Jesus: 'Love each other as I have loved you.' Without this love, all we do is in danger of becoming a vain & empty action. In love, we enter into the lives & needs of our clients with compassion. Founded in God's love, we show respect for human dignity, hope for and commitment to transformation, and a servant attitude." - the Jesus Center staff
Torres Community shelter
The Torres Community Shelter is a nonprofit emergency shelter that serves individuals 18 and older in Butte County 24-hours a day 365 days a year.
Every day, the team at the Torres Shelter provides warm meals, hot showers, laundry services, three meals a day, and safe place to sleep for up to 177 people experiencing homelessness.
However, their services don’t end there. Each individual guest works closely with a case manager to develop a step-by-step Housing Action Plan to break down barriers and secure employment/income and permanent housing.
Established in 2003, the Torres Community Shelter is the longest running program of True North Housing Alliance
Bridging The Gap Foundation
Bridging the Gap was created by Shirley Adams in 2006 to help provide clean, safe water sources for the many people in countries in Africa who have never had access to it before. Through Bridging the Gap, wells have been dug, Tiva water filters have been provided, and education on hygiene and sanitation has been taught. Clean water changes lives for individuals and communities.
Our church family has helped provide clean water through BTG since 2008, when the first annual Walk4Water took place. We have a yearly fundraiser lunch before the walk, and help with preparation for the event.
One of Shirley's favorite quotes is:
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller
