April brought sandwich-making, new community momentum, wedding celebration, and the next phase of preparing the worship space at Dilworth Baptist.
Happy Spring (if you can call it that)! If where you live is anything like Charlotte, the weather has been all over the place. But we won’t let the cold weather keep us down. God has still been warming the hearts of everyone we’ve encountered, and there is a lot to be grateful for this season.
In April, we officially kicked off our Manna Summer Series by making and packing over 600 sandwiches for our neighbors in need. It was a joy to see so many new faces join us to serve the city we call home. We are continuing to build this relational momentum with upcoming “Crust & Culture” dinners, park hangouts, and World Cup viewing parties. These aren’t just social events; they are the groundwork for building a multi-ethnic community of rest as we push toward deepening roots in Dilworth!
Two Have Become One
As we plant locally, our online community continues to flourish. Recently, two of our own became one! Congratulations to Patience and Emmanuel Jonathan on their beautiful wedding in Dallas, TX. Pastor Femi was deeply honored to travel down to give the homily and celebrate this milestone with them.
Preparing the Room
We are taking exciting steps to prepare our physical home! We are scoping out cosmetic renovations for our sanctuary and fellowship spaces at Dilworth Baptist. A massive thank you to the church partners who have already sent teams and contractor recommendations.
To create a truly welcoming, modern space where the exhausted can find rest, we want to update the aesthetic of the room we’ve been so graciously entrusted with. Over the next few months, we are looking to raise $20,000 to fund a three-phase project: repairing and painting the ceiling, modernizing the room with ultra-slim LED lighting, and expanding the stage with a beautiful acoustic feature wall.
Would you or your home church consider partnering with us financially in this endeavor? We’ve also put together a renovation page with photos of the current space, our 3D rendering of the vision, and a wish list if you or your team are moved to contribute specific items.
Will You Pray With Us?
As we continue this planting journey, please pray:
- For the Manna Summer Series: That the Lord would help us faithfully and intentionally connect with the neighbors we meet.
- For the Worship Space: That the Lord would send skilled, honest contractors and mission teams our way to help us execute this vision.
- For the Team: That God would send the right ministry partners, specifically an Assistant Pastor, to help shepherd this growing community.
We are so grateful for your prayers and your support as we plant these roots together.
In Christ,
Femi Oke