Ronnie Dye

The members of Maple Grove Baptist Church have been willing workers on foreign and American mission fields through the years, according to Ronnie Dye, worship leader/outreach minister at the church. The church, however, has been searching for a way to make a difference in the community of Trumann.

"We want to make Trumann a better place to live, for all of us, now and in the future," Dye recently told the Trumann Rotary Club. "So, we're planning a mission in Trumann. We're going to be going out into the community and do something for our neighbors."

Dye says the mission called "Reaching '08" will take place this week in Trumann on Aug. 7-10. For four days over 90 members of the Maple Grove church will go out into the city to help their neighbors.

"We will help our neighbors and not expect anything back," Dye said. "This mission is all about giving back to the community and about giving of ourselves. We plan to provide opportunities for our members to give back to the community of Trumann."

The group will be washing windows on vehicles for factory workers and school employees. They will be mowing lawns for some senior citizens. They will also be putting together a prayer calendar in which every school employee will be prayed for by Maple Grove members throughout the upcoming school year.

According to Dye, U.S. churches have turned more inward than outward in their service in recent years.

"We've become more worried about ourselves."

Church members will also be doing prayer walks throughout the neighborhoods of Trumann. "We will be praying for our neighbors as we walk," Dye said.

"We want to change the way we do ministry, from an inward focus to a more outward focus," Dye said in conclusion. "We trying to change the way we reach others for Jesus. We want to serve our neighbors. By reaching one neighbor at a time, we hope to show our care and concern for all our neighbors in Trumann."

"Reaching '08" will also host an appreciation luncheon for employees of the Trumann School System from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m next Wednesday at the THS cafeteria..