Two years ago, First (Independent Baptist) Church of Austin, TX, pastored Mike Marcellus, purchased 37 acres for a future church relocation. The church uses the property for various events throughout the year, including a community pumpkin patch each October. This year, the pumpkin patch is drawing thousands of guests each weekend. The church uses this as an opportunity to spread the Gospel as each guest receives a flyer with the plan of salvation written in English on one side and Spanish on the other. This past weekend, one lady came with her three sons and told one of the greeters that she was lost and searching for answers in life. She came looking for pumpkins for her children and left knowing Jesus as her Savior.
In addition to the pumpkin patch, each Saturday in October, the church receives a semi-truck with 1,400 food boxes containing milk, meat, whole chickens, a dozen eggs, blocks of butter, potatoes, and other items. Volunteers meet at 8:00 am to start unloading the semi-truck. Food distribution begins at 11:00 am. Each person receiving a food box also receives a flyer with the plan of salvation in both English and Spanish. If there are leftover boxes at the end of the day, Marcellus and church members drive around the neighborhoods near the church to personally deliver the food boxes.
Marcellus reports that each week they see visitors to their church services as a result of their outreach efforts, and people are being saved and baptized. He states, “It has truly been amazing to watch. I am tired, but it is a good tired. I don’t know of a time I’ve enjoyed ministry more than right now.”