Church Serves Community
Volunteers from Suncrest Family Worship Center Paint Cornerstone Baptist Church There was quite a buzz going on last week at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Nine Mile Falls. With the help of several members from the Suncrest Family Worship Center, Cornerstone Baptist Church in Nine Mile received a brand new paint job on the entire exterior of the church building.
The project took the better part of four days. The first day included preparations of the exterior and grounds, power washing, and scraping away of old dried paint. The second day covered masking, taping, and some priming of the façade. On the third day, the rollers and brushes were brought out for the actual painting and some trim work. The fourth and final day included detailed work and touch ups. The building was completed and in perfect condition for the church members and guests to admire and enjoy prior to their Sunday morning worship services.
Pastor Bart Orth has been the lead pastor at Suncrest Family Worship Center for three years. He is a long-time resident of Suncrest. The son of a military man, he moved to the area when he was in the sixth grade. Not only did he attend the area schools as a student but eventually he became a teacher at Lakeside High School. It was then that he felt the stirring of God and believed he was called to serve the Lord more completely.
In 2003, he decided to make ministry his full time vocation. In his words, “This community has really shaped my life in a positive way. I just love giving back and serving the Lord while at the same time serving the community.”
Pastor Orth learned that his community sister church was in need of painting. He also realized he had the professional resources within the Assembly of God body of believers to assist in the painting of the Baptist church. Through a collaborative effort the project was successfully completed.
Rev. Orth continued, “This was a partnership of two local church bodies. We share a unity in serving our Lord Jesus Christ. I want to show that unity and to serve in a practical way. The generosity of all the volunteers demonstrates the practical way we can serve.”
Pastor Barry Bishop has been the lead pastor for Cornerstone Baptist Church for just about two months. He answered the recent pastor call after the church lost their long-time pastor, Bill Hutton. Pastor Bishop is originally from Texas. He and his family have been busy with adjusting to the transition of the move as well as to the “changing of the guard” so to speak. Painting the church building was one of the needs he identified during his transition. Fortunately, as he gratefully put it, “God has provided!” Pastor Bishop continued, “Volunteers from our church provided lunches to the paint crew. It was an incredible effort by all.”
Both pastors have a common mission: To spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to those around them. Together these two community leaders collaborated in a paint project but collectively their greatest collaboration is showing the community the love of the Lord.
