Whether it’s serving meals or donating food, clothes, or arts and crafts supplies, the men and women of the Mature Adults Ministry at First Baptist Church of Hendersonville are always looking for ways to support the Mission. “I’m one of about 15 people who serve at the Men’s Campus twice a month, and once a month at the Women’s Campus,” shared Ruth.

“Serving the homeless and hurting is truly their heart’s work.”

According to Carolyn White, coordinator of the Mature Adult Ministry for the church, this is a close, tight-knit group. “I help with scheduling a bus for them, but for the most part, they do all the work. They start with a bit of social time, end it with prayer, then board the bus and head to the Mission. Serving the homeless and hurting is truly their heart’s work. Volunteering at the Mission means so much to them.”

“Any time the Mission has a need, all we have to do is mention it in one of our Sunday School classes, and the next thing you know, we have exactly what they need,” said Ruth. “God blessed me with administrative skills. I’m good at organizing. But it’s not about me. When one person can’t do it, it seems there’s another one who can.”

On days when the group makes their famous homemade chicken and dumplings, each person has a part to play. Jimmy kneads the dough, Janice makes the dumplings, Art greets everyone who walks in for a meal with an encouraging word.

“Our group missed being at the Mission while volunteering was suspended during the pandemic,” shared Ruth. “But that didn’t stop us from helping in other ways. When we heard there was a need for arts and crafts supplies for the kids, we rallied the troops and came up with paint, tape, and all sorts of materials. I was so excited to see their creations.”