Family Life

Over the last year I have shared a bit about the progress being made in the construction of our new building at Shellman Bluff Baptist.  We broke ground on January 8, 2023, and we dedicated our new Family Life Center on January 7, 2024.  The new building contains a large room for eating and meeting, a beautifully appointed kitchen, restrooms, storage, and even an outdoor kitchen.  We named it the Family Life Center because that is where we, as a church family, “do life together.”

Already we have enjoyed several meals together in our new facility. We have had a membership class as well, and earlier this month, in one weekend, we had a dinner where we invited our community, and then had a joint worship service with other churches from McIntosh County.  It has already been a blessing to us.

            I’ve had a couple of folks question the expense for such a building.  After all, this is the place where we worship. One Sunday School class does meet in the big room, but we had another place they could meet.  Is it wise, is it valid, to build a building where the main purpose is to gather for food? Could we not simply eat at home?

            May I remind you that the Bible speaks often of feasting and festivals.  I know most of those are in the Old Testament, but Jesus and His disciples attended such festivals. They went to at least one wedding.  They often shared meals together, and in fact it would seem that the early church may have eaten together every week.

            Not only that, but the Bible speaks of a great banquet to come.  We will one day sit down with Jesus to the greatest banquet of all.  You see, there is something special about sharing a meal together.  There is something special about gathering at the table with family and friends.

            I am so grateful for our church family’s faithfulness to give to this new project.  I believe that it will be a great blessing for us and for our community for years to come.