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PARKERSBURG -- Pastors from five local churches presented a sizable donation to the North Star Child Advocacy Center.
Liberty Street Church, Heart of Worship Church, New Life Baptist Church, Faith Gospel Church and Word of God Ministries recently held a revival with multiple collections being taken up for North Star CAC. The proceeds of those collections of more than $5,400 were presented to executive director Greg Collins, the largest one-time donation he has seen since assuming the position in March of 2021. After all the donations that were generated from the revival were counted, some were separately sent to North Star raising the total to $5,722.16.
Collins said he was floored by the amount.
"I had trouble finding the words to say thank you. It was such a blessing to us, not only in the amount presented, but the fact that these five churches wanted to collectively support our mission above all else," Collins said. "Churches have been such an integral form of support for us since I arrived here. It started out with a couple and has blossomed into numerous, covering all denominations. It's such a natural fit and the support, in the way of money and supplies, has been so consistent. The children from the five counties we serve have been strengthened directly by all of these churches, and we are merely the conduit to do the work."
In February, pastors met to discuss plans for a five-church revival, Pastor Adam Hall of Faith Gospel Church said. Part of that meeting was to discuss a mission for an offering, he said.
"We didn't want to pay any singers, or have special evangelists come in. We wanted to be able to take the offerings and put them to good use, directly into our community," Hall said. "I suggested North Star to be the recipient of whatever funds were raised at the end of the week. I don't know what I was expecting but those expectations were well exceeded by the outpouring of support from these five churches."
North Star assistant director Julie Nutter was asked at her church to present at the revival about what North Star does.
"When I was asked to speak to the congregation about what we do here at the center, I knew I would feel right at home being in church," Nutter said. "What I did not know was that there were going to be 170 people there! But that's 170 people who may have otherwise not known about what we do. I feel that speaking out about child abuse and bringing awareness to the topic is a vital part of solving the problem."
These five churches went above and beyond to be a blessing, she said.
"Having Julie come and share this ministry with us in our five-church ARISE service was eye opening to a tremendous opportunity for the churches in our area," Pastor Scott Stewart of New Life Baptist Church said. "The financial response in the offerings night after night was confirmation that God was in this. Having been educated to the number of children in our area that need a voice, I am convinced the church can be instrumental in a number of ways to be tools in the hand of God and part of the healing in the lives of these dear children."
For more information about North Star, call 304-917-4437 or email nscac@northstarcac.org to learn more about how you can help. The Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF) can be contacted to leave an endowment or a legacy gift to North Star.