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Church reunites with KARM families
Josh West, Backpack Journalist
Last Updated: 9/24/2007 12:16:43 AM
One local church spent the summer helping out families being cared for by Knox Area Rescue Ministries. Sunday, that church held a reunion to show those families that, even though summer is over, they are not forgotten.
"Today, we're having a celebration of what the church really should be," said Pastor Kevin Woods of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Sunday's service represented a reunion. This summer, church members held a special Bible study for children living at Knox Area Rescue Ministries. After that, the church took everyone from KARM to Dollywood's Splash Country for a day of fun. Pastor Woods says that's just the beginning.
"We just wanted them to know that we didn't just have the activity and we're just going to forget about them," said Woods. "We wanted them to know that they're very much a part of us," he said.
Sunday, the families were invited back to continue building relationships.
"They asked us if we would love to come do this after Splash Country and we said 'sure," said KARM resident Shawn Roberts. "We were kind of excited at the fact that they were able to get us to come back here," he added.
Roberts' family is staying at KARM. He says he appreciates the way the church is reaching out to all of them.
"It means a lot to our family," Roberts said. "Being at the mission, we're kind of relying on them to take care of us in that situation and our hearts just go out to these churches and the volunteers and the donors because it provides our families with the means to stay there," he said.
Church members say they hope to see the family members again soon.
"This is the greatest bunch of people that I've had the privilege to be associated with," said church member Steve McCurry. "There's a real sense of family there, they take care of each other, it's just amazing," he said.
First Cumberland Presbyterian Church plans to keep in touch with the families they met over the summer and continue to provide help to KARM.
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