“We Are One Banquet” - Friday, May 4, 2018

It was “A Night to Remember”. Pastor’s wives and deacon’s wives, ministers, and missionaries, mothers and daughters, sisters, aunts, and cousins, along with friends and neighbors from near and far, together for the purpose of fellowship.

Missionary Castella Owens of Jacksonville Beach COGBF, called it “Girls Night Out.” Lady Marie Givens of Free Cannon Ministries in Starke, Florida, called it,         “Non-Denominational Fellowship”.  Others referred to it as, “A Night of Beauty and Elegance”. We at Sanderson COGBF simply called it “Outreach”.

The Event: A free fellowship banquet was the brainchild of Missionary Mary Jo Clayton, president of our local Sista’s Love Circle and President of the Jacksonville District Global Missions Team.

The Purpose: To reach out, build and strengthen relationships by connecting across our district and into our communities. To meet, greet, rekindle and foster new relationships.

Her Belief: If we are to make a global impact, we must first begin locally. Mother Clayton’s desire was to invite each COGBF pastor’s wife on the Jacksonville District and no less than five (5) women from her church to a Fellowship Banquet. The invitation was extended to neighboring churches as well.

• It was truly a night of Beauty, Elegance and Grace. Ladies were dressed on the “nines”. Smiles abounded, amid laughter, merriment, good fellowship and very good food. Extravagant and personally crafted door prizes were won. We were feted with a most unusual but delightfully hilarious Fashion Show. The Fellowship Hall was transformed and radiated with excellence in colors of red, black, white and bling. Photo memories of the evening were captured by Miss Twala Dixon.

• A wonderfully memorable highlight of the evening was the Service Team. Pastor Armstrong, deacons and brothers, dressed in spiffy black and white, stepped up to the challenge of serving eighty plus (80+) excited and hungry women.

The Menu: Norris’s Smoked Chicken | Honey Baked Ham | Southern Style Green Beans | Flora’s Potato Salad | Garden Tossed Salad | Dinner Rolls | Homemade Pound Cake | Blue Bell Vanilla Ice Cream | Soup’s Lemonade and Ice Tea. We received gift bags as we departed.

As we dismissed we were sure that we made new friends, solidified the old, and united together as one. We purpose to be one; no separation, divisions or schisms, bonded together by the Love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. For we are all One in Christ. Gal. 3:28.

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