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Church Serves Its Neighbors with School Supplies and Movie Night

By August 10, 2017No Comments

AUBURN, Ind.—Lakewood Park Baptist Church combined a movie night with a school supply giveaway to minister to its community.

The church invited people to set up lawn chairs and blankets outside the church July 28 and watch the movie What Do You Believe? while feasting on free hot dogs and popcorn. Those who preregistered received a backpack filled with school supplies for each of their school-age children. The congregation had donated all of the school supplies prior to the event.

The name Lakewood Park comes from the church’s scenic property that includes woods and a 22-acre lake. “We have 180 acres of land here, so my desire is to just share it with the community,” says Pastor James Pettit.

Lakewood Park Baptist Church, previously pastored by Clare Jewell of Regular Baptist Church Planting from 1994 to 2014, is committed to serving its neighbors. At the time of the church’s 60th anniversary in 2010, Jewell said, “Looking forward, I want us to become more and more engaged in the community. I still think we’re just scratching the surface of what we can do for the community and even worldwide. . . . I think we’ll continue to adapt to reach out and meet the needs of people . . . to help them change their lives.”

James Pettit has been pastor of the church since spring 2016. He says, “Our people here at this church are very excited about serving the community and excited about helping people in need.”

One of the ways Lakewood Park Baptist has served others worldwide is by donating funds to En Gedi Bible camp in Manipur, India. Last Christmas, the church donated nearly $19,000, exceeding its goal of $15,000, to help this newly launched camp build a dining hall and kitchen. In the church’s latest endeavor in its own community, the church will provide free car inspections and oil changes on Aug. 12 for widows, single parents, and those in need.