It is not unusual for a local Grace Brethren church to serve as a polling place during an election, such as the Ghent Grace Brethren Church in Roanoke, Va. or the Grace Brethren Church in Norton, Ohio did on Tuesday. (Read here and here about the Ghent church serving as a polling place or here about voter turn out at the precinct at the Norton church.)
Andy Wirt, a church planter in New Albany, Ohio, realized it was an opportunity to let his community know a new Grace Brethren congregation, ClearView Church, is being established in northeast Franklin County. He persuaded a local Caribou Coffee shop to donate coffee and donuts. Early Tuesday morning, he and other members of the church core group were on hand at the Gahanna YMCA to serve the goodies to poll workers, voters, and other volunteers.
“What was most exciting was the contacts we were able to make and the conversations we were able to have,” Andy reported on his blog. “Many people were excited about getting something of value (that they enjoy) for free. We were also able to talk to a handful of families that communicated they are looking for a church. I estimate we were able to give out about 20 invitations to our meetings and seed our logo and a smile in countless minds.”
At the end of the day, Malik Moore, membership services director at the Y (pictured on right with ClearView Church teammate, Dan Whinnery) wrote: “It was a great pleasure having you at the YMCA for Election Day. You are a great example of what it means to be a neighbor. Our members and visitors all seemed to really enjoy your warming spirit. … Please do not hesitate to call me with any ideas you have for partnerships between the Gahanna YMCA and ClearView Church in the future!”
To learn more about ClearView Church, click here or see Andy’s blog, Wirt Prayer Team. The church is currently in the foundational stages with a grand opening scheduled in Fall 2008.