St. Mark opens its doors on Thanksgiving Day
Photo by Timothy Ramsey
Today is Thanksgiving and while many people are sitting down and enjoying their meals, the people of St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, at 1100 Manley St., will be feeding the community. Their annual Thanksgiving dinner giveaway has been a staple of the church for two decades.
The dinner is for the homeless, sick and shut-ins and families who are not able to provide their own Thanksgiving dinners. The dinner will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The church will not only open its doors for walk-ins but will also deliver meals to those who cannot make it out on their own.
St. Mark senior pastor, the Rev. Dr. James Fulwood, and First Lady Hattie Fulwood feels this event is something the church is supposed to do. They say helping the community is part of the reason why the church is here.
“We felt there are so many folks that need food, not only on Thanksgiving Day but every day,” said Dr. Fulwood. “We know people are at home having their nice dinners, so we will open the church on Thanksgiving Day for those who need food in hopes they will have a good Thanksgiving Day.”
Mrs. Fulwood says this event is especially for the homeless because they are out there in the cold weather with no place to fellowship on Thanksgiving. She says the sick and shut are also a point of concern, so they want to include them as well.
“Sometimes people even get the word of God when they come by,” Dr. Fulwood continued. “We just want to tell them God loves them whether they are starving or not. We just want to show Christ through us and our work.”
The Fulwoods say they are so grateful to have their congregation play such an active role in the event. They say they could not put this together without the help of those from the church.
“Pastor always instills in us to show love, and with the members knowing we are a missionary Baptist church and mission is what we are supposed to show, is what it’s all about,” said First Lady Fulwood. “It’s about helping others as well as helping yourself.”
They say it makes them feel good to help the people of the community. They say it lets them know they are doing what they are supposed to do and that is to follow in the steps of Jesus Christ. Dr. Fulwood summed it up by saying “We are on a mission for Jesus Christ.”
For more information, call the church at 336-723-6396.
