Pictured above: Teams crafted encouraging notes to include in care kits that they handed out during the week.

BONIFAY – “Every day we are surrounded by neighbors who need the love of Christ, families who need encouragement, and communities that can be impacted through simple acts of service and intentional gospel conversations,” said Randy Torrance, associational missions strategist for Holmes Baptist Association. 

With local missions in mind, the churches of Holmes Baptist Association recently came together for Project 3:16 – Summer Edition. The initiative began as an annual association-wide focus on helping churches be intentional about showing God’s love and sharing the gospel with members of their community. The focus typically involves strategic events during the week of March 16 and is inspired by John 3:16. 

“Project 3:16 is about cultivating a lifestyle of local missions,” said Torrance. Throughout the week, churches of all sizes were able to meet practical needs and build relationships with families in their local community. During the week, teams gave out bottles of water and popsicles in the community, prayer walked and prayed with neighbors, and assembled care kits for inmates of the local jail, residents of a senior care center, and patrons of the local laundromat. Home repairs and property maintenance needs were completed and clothing was distributed to those in need. 

Each outreach activity met practical needs, but more importantly, the church demonstrated God’s love through their actions. Each participant worked toward the greater purpose of building relationships and sharing the hope that they have found in Jesus Christ. 

Churches shared resources, and volunteers encouraged one another. Families, friends and multiple generations served as teams. The gospel was visible, relationships were strengthened, new connections were made, and churches saw the mission field that is their own community.

“Project 3:16 reminded us that ministry begins with simple acts of kindness,” said Torrance. “Every act of kindness reflected Christ’s love and opened doors for conversations that mattered.”