Touching Taliaferro with Love (TTWL) is one of Northside Drive's oldest and most beloved mission activities. Based on the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s 20-year Together for Hope initiative, TTWL started as a CBF Georgia-based program to address social and economic issues in rural areas. Taliaferro County has one of the highest rates of poverty in Georgia. TTWL is now an independent non-profit that partners with organizations within and outside the county to make a difference in the lives of local children and their families.
Emeritus Pastor James Lamkin's December 2019 Pinnacle article, "Touched by Taliaferro's Love," expresses it best:
“The title is a play on words. For years (probably about eighteen) there has been a summer mission effort called, Touching Taliaferro with Love. For the last thirteen of those years, our church has been the leader for the second week of camp. We of NDBC do missions with a loving touch. However, the people and the place of Crawfordville, touch our hearts, as well. You could argue that we are the mission field, and the county’s kids are the missionaries. Basically, we do a four-day Vacation Bible School. Theologian Emil Brunner said, “The church exists by mission, like a fire exists by burning.” I agree. When we give, we receive. Mission feeds and fuels. Like our vision statement says, we believe hands-on service is crucial to our own discipleship and the mission of Christ in the world.
Taliaferro (pronounced Tah’-li-ver) County,Georiga, ninety miles east of Atlanta, is one of the poorest areas in the state. Few jobs. No grocery store, except Family Dollar. And one school with fewer than 200 students K-12. However, they let us come every year and hang-out. We tell Jesus stories, memorize Bible verses, do crafts, play games, watch moral movies, eat breakfast and lunch, and have a whole lot of fun.”
Unfortunately, again in 2021 Covid has canceled all summer camp activities. But the need for connection and support remains. After a conversation with Jackie Butts (our contact with the county), we learned that grants for rent and utility relief, food distribution, and school supplies were in place. However, masks are not readily available, and no one has offered donations. Enter NW Metro Mask Makers and NDBC volunteers. Soon colorful, made-with-love 100% cotton masks, as well as some disposable masks, will be on their way to the children and families in Taliaferro County. Our commitment of embracing Taliaferro continues even as it evolves. We look forward to next year and finding new ways to reach out with love to support the children and families of Taliaferro.
Nancy Hall, Missions Chair
