OCALA CHURCH MEMBERS SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY
by Herb Pritchard
Ocala, Fla., members have found a new way to serve the community by assisting the nondenominational Interfaith Emergency Services (IES) ministry in Marion County. Interfaith provides a large variety of emergency services to individuals and families in crisis, regardless of race, color, or religion. Ocala members help by preparing the nonprofit organization’s monthly newsletter for mailing.
Volunteer Dee Dee Hirschi states, “It is a great way to get better acquainted with our fellow church members, a fun time to catch up on church news, and a rewarding experience to have a part in helping the needy.”
“We feel that Interfaith is a blessing to the community with all the different needs they meet,” say Jerry and Brenda Sutton. “We are happy to serve in a small way.”
Another Ocala Church member, Karen Couch, brings her sons to assist in the newsletter mailing, knowing that it instills in them a hands-on reminder of Christ’s words, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Interfaith’s April newsletter tribute to more than 200 volunteers shows a picture of Ocala members at work with the comment, “Thanks to the folks from Ocala Seventh-day Adventist Church for their help with our newsletter every month!”
Pastor Dave Swinyar, who recently retired, observed, “IES has been a blessing to our church members, and we have been a blessing to IES. It gives me a good feeling that our church is a part of our community.”