Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Students pitch in to make Gurdon a better place

As many may have noticed by the many good deeds done around town this week, it was Mission Gurdon time again.

For the past three years Beech Street Baptist Church has gathered its adult members, youth group and volunteers from other churches in the area to help better Gurdon and spread God's word. This year was no different with 88 people in all participating to make the mission project a success.

"Beech Street Baptist Church's youth ministers to Gurdon through a three-day blitz of intense ministry. This year's ministry targeted kids, seniors and those just passing by," said Rick Pyron of BSBC.

The week started off with volunteers meeting at the church fellowship hall on Monday morning for breakfast and job assignments. Then the group moved its mission to the old AP&L parking lot where they held a free car wash. In all 30 cars were washed.

Then the group cleaned a home and provided lawn care for 14 different residents.

Throughout the three busy days, the group performed puppet shows for the seniors at the Central Arkansas Development Center/Gurdon Senior Center, as well as residents of the Twin Rivers Nursing Center in Arkadelphia.

The children's ministry included twelve who attended Backyard Bible School at the Gurdon Housing Authority on West Second Street each morning. Larry Plyler was a guest who spoke with the children about his experience doing mission work.

Twenty two children attended the basketball clinic held at the Gurdon Primary School Gym. Gurdon Go-Devil and Ouachita Baptist University athletes played games with the children as well as spread the word of God. The same went for the eight children attending the baseball camp at Cabe Field and the eight young ladies who attended the cheerleading camp.

"Bible truth and Christian Character were emphasized at every clinic," said Pyron.

Pyron reported one individual who received ministry saying, "It was the kindest thing anyone other than my family has done for me in so long. It just really touched me."

In addition to the day time ministry, the church gathered to worship in student led services. Messages were preached by Toby Talley, pastor of First Baptist Church, Booneville, Arkansas. After each night's events, the group would enjoy fellowship and food.

Pyron said, "I saw Mission Gurdon touch a lot of people this year, people in our community and people within our church family. Our students and parent leaders truly put others first to communicate the love of Christ."