Iowa Park 'Great Days of Service' makes news
Rev. John Kay, left, with KAUZ news anchor Erin Horgen during the "Traveling Tuesday" interview.
Editor’s Note, Rev. Kay is a member of the NTC Commission on Communications and pastor of First UMC, Iowa Park.
BY REV. JOHN KAY
First UMC, Iowa Park
Great Days of Service (GDS) of Iowa Park enjoyed increased television coverage for 2008. Now in its second year in Iowa Park, a community located in central Wichita County, this work of ecumenical mission projects received coverage on the CBS and NBC affiliates in Wichita Falls.
News anchor Chris Horgen from KAUZ Channel 6 came to Iowa Park on the Tuesday evening before the start of GDS in order to broadcast live for the station’s “Traveling Tuesdays” evening news. Reporters from both television stations, the Wichita Falls Times Record News and the Iowa Park Leader reported on the projects themselves throughout the fi veday event, Wednesday, July 9, through Sunday, July 13.
Communications Chairperson Annetta Reusch called the stations to book in-studio interviews during the noon news. When she called KAUZ to say that a different person would be coming for the interview because of an injury, the news director asked her for more information about GDS. He then decided that GDS was such a worthwhile project that they should broadcast their 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. newscasts live from Iowa Park.
Dr. Joan LaBarr, NTC Director of Communications, who viewed the newscast in person in Iowa Park, commented, “It was inspiring and interesting to watch the interview process from the remote truck, and to visit with the station personnel as they did the live feed to the station. I commend Rev. Kay and the Iowa Park GDS team for their good reputation with the local media, which was evident throughout the interview.”
“Great Days of Service is about neighbor helping neighbor,” GDS Project Coordinator Mike Isbell told reporters throughout the week.
GDS expanded from five to six congregations in 2008. Grace Tabernacle United Pentecostal joined First UMC, Cornerstone Word of Faith Church, Faith Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, and Lakeview Church of God. More than 350 volunteers participated in this town of 6,400 residents.
A prayer breakfast kicked off the week on Wednesday morning. Newly-elected Mayor Joe Ward read an official proclamation. First UMC pastor Rev. John Kay, who was instrumental in bringing GDS to Iowa Park, delivered the charge, which is based on the “righteous” people’s question of their king, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?” (Matthew 25:37).
On Wednesday evening approximately 200 youth knocked on doors in town, collected nonperishable food items, and returned to the Fellowship Hall of First UMC for a food weighin, pizza party, and silly-string fi ght. They collected more than 2,200 pounds of food in 90 minutes, enough food to feed 36 local families.
The Home Improvement Team worked on more houses in 2008. The Operation Eden crew trimmed bushes and mowed lawns for needy elderly home owners. The Public Servant Meal Team prepared fifty BBQ meals on Thursday for government workers in order to say “thank you” for serving the community.
All of the residents of the town’s nursing home received numerous visits during the week. The Nursing Home Team delivered toiletry items and blankets, throws, and other handcrafted items sewed by the Sewing Team. The Nursing Home Team also read good-memory-nudging stories, played outdoor games, blew balloons, and arranged for ice cream parties, band performances and children’s visits.
The Sunday Celebration moved inside for 2008. More than 200 people filled the First UMC Family Center for desserts, dramas, and musical performances from each congregation.
Four adults dramatically assisted Rev. Kendall Graves of Grace Tabernacle for the evening’s message. Each of the four was a “talking candle” in a closet of a house where a storm had cut off the electricity. Each said that he or she felt more comfortable staying in the closet, where he or she could prepare, talk with the other candles, sing light songs and learn about light, rather than stepping out of the closet and providing much needed illumination for the rest of the house. Rev. Graves said, “GDS provides a way for us candles to step out and give light to our community as God designed us to do.”
Dr. Jim Pledger, First UMC, Sherman, developed “Great Days of Service” in 1996 as a way for 2008. More than to bring together the large-membership churches in downtown Sherman by having members do local mssion projects.
For more information about “Great Days of Service,” please e-mail either Dr. Pledger,
jpledger@fumcsherman.org, or Rev. Kay, pastorjohnkay@sbcglobal.net.
From left, Dana Davis, Ryan Copeland, Youth Director
Cody Parks and Zach Davis prepare to deliver 2,200
pounds of nonpersihable food collected from town
residents on Wednesday evening, sufficient to feed
36 local families in need.
Karlton Allsup works on a Home Improvement
house.
Nicole Kay, left, wife of Rev. John Kay joins
with another Iowa Park UMC
volunteer to visit residents at the Iowa
Park Health Care Center.
Morning anchor Erin Shryock from KFDX Channel 3,
Wichita Falls, interviews GDS Project Coordinator Mike Isbell.
