Faith Memorial Missionary Baptist Church hosted the community and families with its second Annual Faithland Christmas Praise and Angel Tree Worship Service last month.
BY LYNN GORDON, Contributor
ST. PETERSBURG — For the second year, Faith Memorial Missionary Baptist Church celebrated Christmas with some extraordinary guests and in a special way last month. The congregation hosted the community and families with its second Annual Faithland Christmas Praise and Angel Tree Worship Service. The evening was hosted in partnership with the Faith Music Ministry, Brotherhood Ministry, Hospitality Ministry, and the Decorations Ministry.
Several Angel Tree Christmas program families joined the Faith congregation for the drive-in worship service held on Faithland, the church’s vacant lot on 18th Avenue South. The Angel Tree Christmas program is part of the Prison Fellowship Ministry that helps strengthen relationships between incarcerated parents and their children by sending messages of love accompanied by Christmas gifts that members of congregations like Faith graciously donate.
Although this is Faith’s third year participating in the Angel Tree Christmas program under the leadership of the Brotherhood Ministry, this is the second year that the service has been held on Faith Land to accommodate better the challenges presented by the ongoing pandemic. The Faith congregation has wholeheartedly embraced the effort, as 50 children were recipients of Christmas gifts.
Just like last year, attendees could see and hear the service from their cars using a radio transmitter or by sitting under the stars in chairs or on blankets. Music performances were rendered by the Faith Ensemble, Jordan Bolds, Natasha Cash, and Terry White. The youth of Faith participated by reading scriptures related to Jesus’ birth, and the congregation rejoiced during the service as two youth from Faith came to Christ.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Pastor Robert A. Vinson, Jr. and the Faith family continue to look for ways to reach the surrounding community by making the church’s presence known outside of the church walls whenever possible.
The congregation continues worship service on Zoom each Sunday at 10 a.m. and Bible study each Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Zoom ID # is 226 033 6850. Visitors are always welcome to log on.
