David Laughlin
DUNCAN — Pastor Jim Grounds may not have penned the slogan “church with a heart,” but he is doing everything within his ability to fulfill the promise the name entails. The lack of electricity can be a stumbling block for anyone or anything, especially a church whose sole purpose is serving. Grounds and the rest of New Beginnings turned the stumbling block of no electricity into a platform to distribute hope to the helpless and rest for the weary.
“The church has always helped. We are a church that helps people,” Grounds said. Although the church didn’t have electricity, one of the families in the church purchased a generator to provide some much need electricity. Grounds said the church has a gas furnace, just not electricity.
Grounds says the building has housed more than 30 people every night since the power went out. Grounds said people have left the church shelter and went to the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center, where Red Cross has established a shelter. Grounds said they came back to New Beginnings however.
Preparation was not an issue for Grounds and the church. New Beginnings offers an outreach meal at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Grounds said “We have had people donate the food out of their refrigerator because they didn’t want to see it waste.”
Grounds said the one distinguishing factor for New Beginnings is that all the money the church raises goes straight back out to the community.
“Our goal is to be like Jesus, our ministry is to help the people in the streets,” he said.
Prior to the ice storm, New Beginnings was active in the community. Grounds said the church is active in assisting people who are homeless. Grounds said in the first three years of New Beginnings’ existence, the church gave away 11 cars.
“We really want to help people. We have always felt the church should help, its our responsibility,” Grounds said.
Grounds said he has seen many young people with children using the resources of the shelter. Grounds said it has been great to see all the teenagers and children playing board games and cards. “It’s been real fun, you get to see how much love you have,” Grounds said.
“We are doing what the church is supposed to be doing,” Grounds said. “Sometimes, we are the only Jesus some people might every see.”
New Beginnings is located at 1004 North fifth in Duncan. Grounds said most of the people who were at the church were able to go home Wednesday.
“We will be ready for anything next time around. We have a generator now and we are working on getting some extra gas stoves, we will be ready for anything, more winter weather, a tornado, it doesn’t matter. We will be here to help.”
— David Laughlin is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 144, or via e-mail at david.laughlin@duncanbanner.com.
