Up & Coming Weekly

August 23, 2022

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 24 - 30, 2022 UCW 19 I watched what I thought was a documentary about an award-win- ning songwriter recently. e entirety of the hour was a narration written in response to a letter received from another songwriter struggling to find purpose and meaning in his life and profession. Delivered in a voice that said, "I understand" or "I've been where you are," he was clearly offering hope to the unnamed recipient. He said, "ey say you write about what you know. I'm telling you my story not because it's the best one, but because it's the one I know the best." In a world built on proud factions, it's odd that in difficult times we hear the word 'unity' tossed around. I'm re- minded of a phrase I've spoken many times. Over time I went from saying it, to eventually believing it, and finally to trying to live it: ere is more that unites us than there is that divides us. In His final earthly charge to those who knew Him best in this world, Jesus says this in Matthew 28:19-20: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." In our search for identity, our won- dering about purpose, our struggle with the meaning of this brief life — the Son of God Himself sums it up for the church as He answers the ques- tions asked so many times and in so many ways: Why am I here? What's the point of the church? Do I even matter? And … how am I supposed to do this on my own? In answering the questions His followers didn't know enough to ask, Jesus didn't say to feed the hungry like He did. He didn't say heal the sick or love your neighbors like He did. In His parting instructions to those who knew Him best, Jesus summed it all up and said we are to observe everything He commanded us to do. Everything. While that certainly includes feed- ing the hungry, healing and loving, it doesn't stop there. And it's not where it starts, either. It starts with making disciples. It starts with caring enough about people right around us, those in our extended circles, and even those we haven't — and might never — meet. Caring enough to help them find what's best for them in this world and beyond. I'm grateful that my story— the one I know best — contains a sidebar when someone took me aside and explained all this to me. We could all use someone like the small-town pastor who cared enough to help me understand what Jesus taught and what that means for us now. And if what we believe is true, we're called to be like that pastor. Because we Christians are unified by a singular mission: helping others learn to love God and love others like Jesus did. Unified by purpose: Love God and love others like Jesus did by DAN DEBRULER FAITH Photo courtesy of Pexels DAN DEBRULER, General Manager, WCLN. Comments? Editor@upandcomingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. CHAYENNE BURNS, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upand- comingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. According to Manna Church's website, its mission is to glorify God by equipping His people to change their world and by planting churches with the same world-changing vision. Here in Fayetteville, Manna Church's Cliffdale site is a haven for many in the community. Members and visitors can expect to experience a contemporary worship style at Manna. e church is home to both a children's and teen ministry. Manna Church offers four week- end worship services and additional services at their Anderson Creek Site. e earliest service begins at 8:00 a.m. while the latest service begins at 12:45 p.m. On ursdays at the Anderson Creek Site, there is a 6:30 p.m. service. At Manna Church, members and visitors have the opportunity to join a Small Group. One of the many Small Groups is "A Woman's Touch" which is exclusively for women who are pas- sionate about God and serving others. e primary goal of the group is to grow in the knowledge and applica- tion of biblical truth so the "inner woman" matches the "outer woman." Couples have the chance to join the "Aim for Marriage" Small Group. Here, members hope to join in wor- ship together, pray for each other, and facilitate weekly discussions about different areas where Christ is calling each marriage represented to grow, and how participants can help one another in that journey. Members of Manna Church partici- pate in Outreach Opportunities like Manna's Dream Center Food Pantry, which is where team members assist with stocking the food/diaper pantry and accompanying guests while they "shop." Another Outreach Opportunity is to be a part of the Manna Dream Center Lunch SERVE Team. e Manna Dream Center began feeding lunch to those in need during the COVID pandemic and, since 2020, Manna has handed out food every day between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. On Sept. 10 Manna Church will be giving out food to military families. e event will be a "drive-thru" style event, meaning families will stay in their cars. anks to the kindness of CVS Health, Tyson Foods, Manna Church and the major suppliers of the com- missary, families will receive a bundle of healthy, nutritious food — includ- ing protein, a variety of seasonal pro- duce, breakfast items, canned goods and household products. is event is exclusively for active duty, National Guard, Reserve and veteran families. Families must pre- register and Manna Church requests that participants arrive at their sched- uled time in order to help maintain a safe traffic flow. Tickets are available based on the pick-up time of the participants' bundle. Participants may only register for one time slot per family. e event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. When families arrive, they must present their Eventbrite confirmation (mobile or printed) at the drive-thru check-in. ere is a limit of one bun- dle per household. Manna asks that participants remain in their vehicles throughout the duration of the event and allow the church member to do the heavy lifting. Families can register at https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/fort- bragg-area-military-family-drive- thru-food-distribution-registra- tion-381028505517. For more information about Manna Church or its programs and services, visit https://www.manna.church/. More information about the food distribution can be found by calling 910-867-9151. Church offers fellowship, food distribution event by CHAYENNE BURNS

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