First Baptist makes donations to Braggadocio Baptist
BRAGGADOCIO – A devastating tornado of April 2 destroyed many homes and businesses in the Braggadocio-Caruthersville areas. Unfortunately, several churches incurred the wrath of nature’s fury as well, including the Braggadocio Baptist Church, which was a total loss.
According to Interim Pastor Keith Flowers, Sunday evening services had just let out, and people were in transition. Some were standing in the church building talking while others were walking to their cars. And in a matter of minutes, the storm struck. Some members rode the storm out in the church, while others attempted to outrun the storm in their vehicles, including Flowers and his wife, Cathy.
“The tornado was tossing our car around pretty good,” Flowers said. “My wife, Cathy, commented that we weren’t going to make it. She got in the floorboard of the car and prayed like I had never heard her pray before.”
Well, both husband and wife made it, as did all members of the Braggadocio Baptist Church, but their building didn’t. What was left of it had to be demolished. Since then, the church has been meeting at the Vo-Tech Center.
With such a great need, Steele’s First Baptist Church decided to do something. The church has an annual Thanksgiving Harvest Day Celebration where they enjoy a meal together and take up a special offering for building improvements. This year, however, the special Thanksgiving offering was given to the Braggadocio Church.
“This year we thought it would be a blessing to us and to Braggadocio if we gave the money to them to help with the rebuilding efforts,” said Bill Lewis, treasurer of Steele’s First Baptist Church. “Our goal was $5,000, which we surpassed. We were able to give Braggadocio $5,233. We also invited the entire church to fellowship with us on Thanksgiving Harvest Day, which was held Nov. 19. Their pastor, Keith Flowers, also preached for us that day.”
At a dinner at Boyettes at Reelfoot Lake Dec. 4, the leadership of both congregations met for a meal and fellowship. It was at this meeting that the check was officially presented to the Braggadocio Baptist Church, Lewis added.
Needless to say, the leadership and the membership of the Braggadocio Baptist Church are amazed and grateful at the generosity of the Steele congregation.
“It’s not very often that we see true, New Testament love exhibited,” Flowers stated. “Their gift to us touched our hearts in a very spiritual way. There are still some churches out there who believe in true, biblical love.”
As the new building is now being erected, Braggadocio Baptist Church Treasurer Charles Albert Faris is also incredibly appreciative of their sister congregation’s generosity.
“I can’t tell you how much we appreciate it,” Faris said. “We had a good church building and good insurance, but it wasn’t enough.”
In speaking about the Thanksgiving Harvest Day Celebration, Faris was impressed with the Steele congregation’s offer of fellowship and love. “They invited us to Harvest Day,” he said. “They said the Harvest Celebration would be for us. I have been amazed at their kindness and the kindness of others to help us get our new building up.”
(Special to The Pathway from the Steele Enterprise.)