Impact with helping hands and willing hearts

The Grundy Center church in Trenton is a small United Methodist fellowship in northern Missouri. It’s five miles outside of town, on a country road, the very picture of an open-country church.

At the end of 2014, their worship attendance was 19. They’d had one baptism that year, the first in more than four years. In 2015, they were back to zero. Not a stellar record.

But, the good people in the church decided that was unacceptable. Something had to change. That “something” was themselves!

But, the good people in the church decided that was unacceptable. Something had to change. That “something” was themselves!

Richard Key, a licensed local pastor, was appointed their pastor January 1, 2015. He came in with determination and a plan. He took on this job in addition to his full-time job of farming a thousand acres of land.

Key is a real relationship guy and encouraged his people to get to know people who weren’t regular churchgoers.

In his sermons, Key continually reminds his people that Jesus modeled one-on-one relationships. Following his lead, the people started to look outside their doors, get out and see the people living in the area.

Members worked to put together what they called “Cheer Bags” to deliver at Thanksgiving. These brightly decorated bags contained snacks and a note for people who might be encouraged with the kindness.

They decorated a church float with crepe paper and hand made signs that thanked their local heroes, the police and fire departments, in the Missouri Days Parade in Trenton. They won first prize!

Their fellowship hall is full of people once a month when the church hosts a community supper. Everyone in Trenton is invited to come for a good, hot home-cooked meal – no charge, no work, no cleanup! Who wouldn’t love that?

They adopted a section of the highway going through Trenton. Once a quarter, local residents see the church at work, picking up trash and caring for the town.

Some of the sweet church ladies make lap robes to give to people who need a little extra warmth. These have been loved and appreciated by many in the community, especially some of the elderly people who don’t get out much. Grundy Center lets them know they are not forgotten.

Since the people have made it a point to get to know people outside their church, the church’s regular attendance has grown to about 50. That is huge! This success has encouraged the people to become even more relational.

In 2016, the church had seven professions of faith and seven baptisms (three children and four adults). The Sunday morning attendance increased to 60.

Since the people have made it a point to get to know people outside their church, the church’s regular attendance has grown to about 50. That is huge! This success has encouraged the people to become even more relational.

In 2016, the church had seven professions of faith and seven baptisms (three children and four adults). The Sunday morning attendance increased to 60.

That is a fantastic 20 percent increase in attendance!

Key has led the people to embrace a blended worship style. The youth lead a portion of the service with a contemporary flair, but blend traditional hymns into the service.

Grundy Center makes an impact on the community with helping hands and willing hearts. It has turned to being an outward looking, ministry-oriented congregation. They have found success making disciples the old-fashioned way – one at a time.

Are you interested in participating in One Matters? Contact Jacqui King by email at [email protected], or by phone at 615-340-7295. Learn more about the One Matters Discipleship Award.