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The food at High Ridge BBQ was A-Maz-Ing. I hate to say it was the best I’ve ever had, because the truth is, who can really remember the best they ever had? But it may have been the best I’ve ever had (at least the last time I forgot “the best I’ve ever had”!) I had fried okra and coleslaw with the country style ribs… which were messy, but Some Kinda Good. Around the table there was brisket, pulled pork, BBQ chicken, and all kinds of delectable southern-fried vegetables (like macaroni and cheese, which is a vegetable in the right kind of restaurants).

The food. Yum.

But we were there to talk with Jennifer Greene and Matt Bennett and Tommy Justus. I’ll tell you about Jennifer later, but Matt is a construction coordinator with the Community Housing Coalition in Madison County. They’ve been building and refurbishing housing for needy and deserving folk around Mars Hill and Marshall and Hot Springs for 23 years. CHC got its start as a program out of Mars Hill Baptist called “In As Much.” (“In as much as you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto me…” (Matthew 25).)

Mars Hill Baptist got its start in 1856 and has been associated with Mars Hill University since 1860. It’s been under the able leadership of Tommy Justus for 30 years. Tommy was a classmate of Amy’s and mine at Southern Seminary, and has been working in Madison County, pastoring this church, driving a school bus, refereeing high school soccer and basketball, creating programs like “In As Much,” long enough to have met just about everyone in Madison County. And there’s little doubt everyone in the county knows him. He’s affable, never meets a stranger (certainly knows the owners of every restaurant in the county), and his shock of white hair and his knowledge of a little of everything speaks a kind of country preacher wisdom to everyone he meets. (But he’s not just a country preacher. For years he taught a class at Mars Hill along with our esteemed friend and Baptist historian, Dr. Bill Leonard.)

Matt and Tommy had met us at that table to introduce us to Jennifer Greene, a retired Madison County high school teacher, who lives in the little community of Rollins. The little strip of homes that constitute Rollins is on the French Broad River, just upstream of Marshall – where water from Hurricane Helene crossed the downtown bridge. They say there was 27 feet of water above the bridge. Most of Rollins washed across that bridge. Jennifer’s house remains, but the engineers have confirmed, it’s sliding down the hill toward the French Broad.

Jennifer is living with her mother, next door, and has been acting as something like the “Mayor of Rollins,” helping neighbors find help and put life back together. When Tommy suggested that some good folk from Charlotte could come and build her a new house, she referred to those “more needy than me” – but Tommy insisted. Because she’s been such a leader in the community, let’s get her back on her feet, then she can help lead the charge for many others.

So… here’s the plan.

Tommy and Mars Hill Baptist will help put all the pieces together, contributing some money to the overall project. Habitat for Humanity will provide the plans and the materials list. CHC will walk alongside, and schedule electrical, plumbing, and HVAC contractors from the county. Jennifer will serve as her own General Contractor, lining up inspections, coordinating with contractors. And…

Park Road Baptist Church is going to build Jennifer a house!

Mark Mintich has agreed to provide construction oversight (and we may be reaching out to a few more of our construction gurus for help). Dan, Amy, and I will be the cheerleaders, generating as much volunteer help as possible. We’ll need all kinds… hammer swingers, children watchers, cookers, cleaners, cleaner uppers…

We’re starting to work out some details, but we wanted to write about this today and ask you to keep THE MONTH OF MAY on your calendar. We hope to have one grand Kickoff weekend, maybe a Thursday-Monday in early May, to raise the walls, lift some trusses… and then we’ll play it by ear, until Jennifer has a new house on the French Broad she can call home.

Put May on your calendars. I want you to meet Jennifer. (And maybe I can introduce you to High Ridge BBQ, too!) - Russ

Walk gently through the world…

— Apache Blessing

Walk gently. Walk gently through the world and know its beauty,

The beauty of the earth, the splendor of the skies.

Walk gently through the world and know its beauty

For all the days of our lives.

May the sun bring new energy by day, 

The moon restore you softly every night.

May the rain wash all your worries away, 

May the breezes blow strength into your being.

Last Sunday, our 3rd–5th graders took their new worship leadership roles seriously as they trained to bring the Light into worship at the beginning of the service and carry it out “as we go into the world.”

As the prophet Isaiah reminded us, “And a little child shall lead them.”

Thank you to our children for shining God’s Light.

Park Road has been partnering with Starmount Academy of Excellence (PreK–5) for over a year. Starmount is a CMS Title I school with a student population that is over 70% Hispanic. One of the premier events PRBC sponsors is the Book-A-Palooza event, where students at Starmount can select three new or like-new books from our inventory to keep for free.

Volunteers are needed on Wednesday, April 9, to transport the books from Park Road to Starmount and unpack them. On Thursday, April 10, volunteers are needed to assist students in selecting books, pack up the remaining books, and transport them back to the church.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4CAAAE2DAAFE3-55490948-bookapalooza#/

Is it finally spring or is it winter again? One day we think spring has finally sprung and the next one we are shivering, our teeth chattering, and bones are rattling. VSP is a place we can go to experience the warmth of spring no matter the weather. We see the glow of friendly faces, eat a yummy hot meal, enjoy cozy surrounding, and bask in the laughter and joy of being together. This month our entertainer is one Russ recommended, so you can be assured of grand time. His name is Mahlon Thomas. I know you welcome him warmly. VSP is Thursday, March 20 at noon. Don’t forget to sign up in all the various ways you can by Sunday, March 16.

Megan Oakley has been a massage therapist for over 20 years. Outside of work, she’s passionate about natural healing, yoga, and cooking. She also enjoys plotting with her two teenage kids to finally convince her husband, Matthew Barner, to adopt a dog — especially since they already have a fenced backyard ready to go! Megan's favorite TV show is Ted Lasso, and she can often be found enthusiastically yelling at the screen whenever Charlotte FC is playing.

PRU offers a diverse array of studies and opportunities to expand your spiritual horizons. Especially if you are not in a Sunday morning Connection Group, we encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities. “Open and Relational Theology” may be a new title, but it’s the theology you’ve been hearing for years at Park Road. Tom Oord, the Director of the Center for ORT, will be our guest on September 6–7, so this spring we will be exploring his book, Open and Relational Theology: An Introduction to Life-Changing Ideas. The book is available from online sellers, though you do not have to purchase it to take part in the class.

This study is based on the book, in which Oord defines ORT and explains how it differs from traditional theologies. He outlines the essential ideas of ORT, aiming to inform and stimulate creative thinking about who God is and how God acts in our day-to-day lives. This Sunday we will ask “Why” and explore some of our biggest questions about who God is and how God acts. Join us Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Milford Chapel.

PRU Spring Classes Lineup:

• March 16- Open and Relational Theology (Why)
• March 23- ORT (Open)
• March 30 - Connection Groups
• April 6 - ORT (Relational)
• April 13 - ORT (Amipotent)
• April 20 - Connection Groups/Easter
• April 27 – ORT (Present)
• May 4 – ORT (Loving)
• May 11 – Connection Groups
• May 18 – Connection Groups
• May 25 – Bonhoeffer Study (More Information Coming Soon)
• June 1 – Bonhoeffer Study



PRU Summer Class – “Creativity as Spiritual Practice” (dates TBA)

Our next gathering is happening on Thursday, March 20, at 6 p.m. at Rhino Market and Deli in South Park.

📍 Location: 4300 Congress Street, Charlotte, NC 28209

Please note, there are multiple Rhino Market locations — be sure to head to the South Park spot, conveniently located directly across from the Village Tavern. We can’t wait to see you there!

This month in honor of Mardi Gras and Lent, let’s look toward 'Nawlins. The Cajun menu at Boudreaux’s in NoDa looks terrific. We’ll have passed Mardi Gras, so we should be into the season of fasting and penance, but since we’re Baptist, it’ll be okay to splurge just a little!

Join us on Friday, March 21 — either in the PRBC parking lot at 11:15 a.m., or at the restaurant, 501 E. 36th Street in NoDa. (But sign up either way in Helt Hall or the church office!)

• Upcoming Events:
• Youth Spring Retreat, May 16-18, 2025 - Save the Date! More details to come soon.
• Unidversity, July 7-11, 2025 - We’ll be at Maryville College again this year for this life-changing week with friends from churches all over the Southeast. Reserve your spot with a $75 deposit. For more information please reach out to Steve Cothran.
• Regular Scheduled Programing is as follows:
• Sunday Mornings, 10a - Preview
• Sunday Evenings, 5:30-7p - SNT

Sing-Along with Russ in Sunday School — March 30

Russ is bringing his guitar and singing with the kids in Children’s Sunday School. There will be some old favorites, but the highlight will be learning Camp Prism songs. This year, Camp Prism is July 15–18. If you want to learn more about Camp Prism, or if you just wanna sing, be there!

• Upcoming Events
• Palm Sunday, April 13 - gather in Helt Hall just before 11a to process in the palms.
• Eater Egg Hunt, Sunday, April 20 -Following Worship
• Camp Prism, July 15-18 (3rd - 5th graders)

• Regular Scheduled Programing is as Follows:
• Sunday Mornings 9:45a.: Children's Sunday School (K-5th)
• Sunday Mornings 9:45a. & 11a: Nursery
• First Wednesdays 5:30p Dinner/6p Children's Midweek - The first Wednesday of each month.

Sympathy is extended to the Hamrick family in the death of Gwen Hamrick. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. Visitation will follow

in Helt Hall.

Coming Up at Park Road

Sunday Worship

Facebook Live and In-Person

11a

Sundays

Pickleball

(Gym)

7:15p

First Wednesdays

Dinner and Vespers

(Community Center)

5:30p Dinner / 6p Vespers

First and Third Tuesdays

Bible Study and Fellowship

(Community Center - Room C503)

10a

Tuesday and Thursdays

Flexercise

(Community Center)

9a

Park Road Baptist Church 

 3900 Park Road | Charlotte NC | 28209

Tel (704) 523-5717 

Fax (704) 523-8481

info@parkroadbaptist.org 

 www.parkroadbaptist.org