Faith Matters: In-State Mission Trip
By: Sydney Hart, KARK 4 News
Updated: August 15, 2007
Instead of getting their passports ready for a mission trip overseas a local group shared their faith right here in the Natural State."Missions are all across the country and the world, but we have a big mission in our own back yard," explains Sr. Pastor Cedric Hayes.
Two and half years ago Cedric Hayes moved his family from North Little Rock to Gloryland Family Fellowship Church, the south location in Eudora.
"Wherever he tells me to go - I go. Wherever he guides - he provides," adds Hayes.
As the community is just now warming up to this churches hospitality small group is lending a helping hand for their summer mission trip.
"When you have someone with the same kind of heart you have and come from Little Rock and other areas of the state it's a wonderful thing," says Hayes.
From Conway to Bella Vista, a group of servants represent several churches and in the heat of the summer each has their own reason for spending a week in Eudora.
"God lead me down here," says Stuart McCamey.
"I think about serving and loving without expecting anything in return," adds Ben Van Scyoc.
"Yeah it's worth it - the end result is people coming to know Christ," says Cody Van Scyoc.
These young men and women are with the group, Jerusalem Now and in the course of five days. They touched up Gloryland Fellowship, fed the community, visited with neighbors, tore down eyesores throughout the area, and then just hung out with the residents of Eudora.
"Help pull this community together. It's divided racially and economically and we want to try to pull some unity together," explains Hayes.
So why Eudora ? According to this group, why not?
"Acts 1:8 says hit Jerusalem first. I think great foreign mission, we've got to go there, but sometimes we forget the home-front. This area along the Mississippi Delta is really hurting. A lot of places here in America is really hurting and we forget about it," explains Cody Van Scyoc.
