Donut Time & Divine Diversity

How Griggs started sharing donuts each Sunday and what we learned from it 

In the early days of our revitalization, Griggs had several teaching times each week. There was Sunday school at 10 a.m., the morning worship service at 11, a Sunday evening service at 6, and our Wednesday night service as well.

That rhythm is familiar to many Baptist churches, especially here in the South. It’s a good structure for teaching multiple topics each week — and it works beautifully when a church is large and thriving.

But when your church is in a rough patch, like ours was after Pastor Yoemans passed away, it can make sense to simplify. Instead of spreading energy thin across several teaching opportunities, we wanted to pour more of our energy into building relationships — with each other, with new members, and with the many visitors we were praying would come.

So we made a small but meaningful change. We turned the 10 a.m. Sunday school hour into a time of fellowship downstairs in the fellowship hall. Since it was early on a Sunday morning, the idea of pairing it with donuts and coffee seemed like a natural fit. We called it “Donut Time.” Apparently, we didn’t feel a real need to be flashy in naming ministries back then.

We bought a humble coffee pot — a $20 “Mr. Coffee” from Target — and each week someone would pick up donuts on their way to church.

Each Sunday morning, our people gathered in what was then the fellowship hall. People would trickle in between 10 and 10:30, grab a cup of coffee, and start talking. More and more people came each week. 

Photo by IsaacCropsey.com

It may sound simple, even trivial — but this weekly donut time began to shape a core conviction for our church: there’s no strange mix of people to Jesus.

That truth became clear week after week as we looked around the room. At “Donut Time,” there might be three or four neighbors from Poe Mill, a few homeless friends, some longtime Griggs members, and a handful of college students — all sitting together, laughing, and sharing stories.

To the world, that’s a strange crowd. A mix of people who, on paper, shouldn’t be in the same room. But to Jesus, that’s completely normal.

Jesus always brings people from different backgrounds together — poor shepherds and wealthy Magi, Samaritans and Jews, tax collectors and zealots. He loves to unite those who would otherwise have nothing in common.

This is part of His gospel. Jesus died for our sins and offers to anyone who will believe His own righteous standing before the Father. Thus, as people kneel before His cross, they all do so on level ground, so that no one is superior or inferior to another.

Ephesians tells us, “He Himself is our peace” and that He “has broken down the dividing wall” that used to keep us all apart.

This conviction — that there’s no strange mix of people to Jesus — quickly became one of our hopes and prayers for Griggs.

We realized all the more that, as we revitalized, we didn’t want to become a congregation that was explainable. We didn’t want to curate our programming to a specific demographic and thus draw out a homogeneous group of people. Even if we grew by the hundreds, that would not have been a “win.” Any company, or cause, or club can do that.

Our vision is to be a mix of people only explainable by the presence of the Spirit — a group of brothers and sisters that would seem strange to the outsider, but not to the One who brought us in.

And Jesus has continued and will continue to accomplish this for us in His goodness — even if all we have to offer Him is our five donuts and two coffees.

Eventually, as our church grew and more kids filled the downstairs, Donut Time had to move upstairs to the front porch, where it is today. And at some point, Donut Time was relabeled as our Welcome Team. But the spirit of simplicity, connection, and valuing relationships has stayed the same.

To this day, dozens of people arrive early, linger on the porch, talk, pray, and get to know one another over donuts and coffee. We’ve seen new friendships form, burdens shared, and multiple ministry opportunities with the homeless community of Poinsett Highway materialize.  

Every week, thanks to a slight change we made ten years ago, we get a joyful reminder that, to Jesus, there’s no strange mix of people.

Photo by IsaacCropsey.com

This article origionally appeared in Griggs Church’s community newspaper: Saltbox Quarterly.

Tresa Lyle Loves Where She Lives

“Love where you live” is a phrase that pops up anytime a city, town, or neighborhood is being revitalized. You’ll see it on t-shirts, stickers, and murals whenever a community is rediscovering itself and trying to muster up some team spirit.

But in Poe Mill, we don’t just say it—we see it. And one of the clearest examples is Tresa Lyle.

Tresa lives in Poe Mill, though not quite like anyone else. Her home is the last remaining piece of the original mill property—the old Poe Mill office building itself.

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She’s long been familiar with the area, having grown up on Paris Mountain, and even has family roots that trace back to Poe Mill. In 2005, when she discovered the old office building was for sale, she saw what others didn’t: potential. She bought the property, moved in with her kids, and has been there ever since.

The building is huge and historical—10,000 square feet spread over three stories, with dozens of rooms. While textiles were never made there, this was once the mill’s administrative wing. It even included a convenience store for workers and a space where church services were held for village congregations that didn’t yet have their own building. Walking through it feels like stepping into Greenville’s early boom, back when it was first called “the textile capital of the world.”

Across the street lies what used to be the main mill complex. After it burned down in 2003, its concrete foundation was transformed into a skate park. Over the years, Tresa has loved watching new generations of skaters come and go—young kids learning to drop in, then growing up, and heading to college, or starting careers.

Step inside the Poe Mill office today, and you’re greeted by history everywhere you look—artwork of the old mill by local legend Jared Emerson, a grand staircase, exposed brick, wood, and iron throughout. The first visit takes your breath away.

Downstairs stretches one of the longest hallways you’ll ever see, lined with doors leading to rooms that serve as studios, offices, or apartments. Each one feels like a loft, with soaring ceilings and unique character.

Tresa’s father was a builder, so she learned carpentry skills early in life. She can handle nearly any construction task herself, which has allowed her to transform the building into something truly one-of-a-kind.

You see that creativity most clearly in the spaces she and her family occupy—especially in the old office of F.W. Poe himself. This corner of the building was where Poe once ran the mill in the late 1800s. The original fireplace and feel of the room is still intact. Tresa added a kitchen, turned the bump-out nook (added later by Poe’s brother, Nelson) into a cozy reading corner, and redesigned the living area for conversation and contemplation.

Tresa sitting in her living room, which is the former office of F.W. Poe. Photo by IsaacCropsey.com

Tresa bought the building because it gave her a sense of hope—hope for the building itself, for the community around it, and for its future. For the past twenty years, she’s held on to that vision through both prosperous times—like when she had dozens of tenants and a waitlist of artists seeking studio space—and hard seasons, like the 2008 housing crash.

She hasn’t given up because she loves where she lives.

Her dream is to bring hope and connection to Poe Mill—whether it’s retirees on fixed incomes, parents working long hours to make ends meet, or teens trying to finish high school. She wants the neighborhood to flourish for everyone.

And she’s using her space to make that happen. Tresa envisions the old mill office as a community hub—a place for neighborhood gatherings, artist showcases, small business pop-ups, and even Christmas events where families can sip cocoa and take photos together.

She’s ready to collaborate, to host, and to welcome ideas. And she’s ready for this right now. Tresa doesn’t want to wait until Poe Mill is fully gentrified or reinvented with newcomers and new attractions—she’s building community now, because she already loves where she lives.

If you’d like to connect with Tresa about renting space or hosting your next event, reach out to Griggs Church, and we’ll make sure to put you in touch.

This article origionally appeared in Griggs Church’s community newspaper: Saltbox Quarterly.

From Sunday School to Higher Ed

Donovan Hawthorne grew up in the Poe Mill neighborhood, where he witnessed firsthand the hardships and complexities of the area throughout his childhood.

Despite having access to the influences that usually steer kids in the wrong direction, Donovan chose a different direction and pursued a relationship with the Lord.

Donovan started coming to Griggs when he was hardly old enough to walk or talk. Roger Sexton, a leader at Griggs for over 40 years, would pick him up on the church van every Sunday. Despite his occasional behavior issues (which were sometimes his brother’s fault) Roger continued to show up every Sunday and ensure Donovan got to church. “That made a big impact on me,” Donovan said as we publicly recognized his graduation from high school earlier this year.

Donovan standing in front of a Griggs Church van, which he rode to church as a kid. Photo by IsaacCropsey.com

Donovan kept coming off and on through upper elementary school and middle school. In his later high school years, Donovan started attending Griggs regularly of his own volition, pursuing a one-on-one relationship with the Lord.

We have all been impressed and uplifted by his dedication to serving others and attending Sunday morning service. Not only has God opened his heart, but God has opened doors for his future that our whole community is excited about.

While Donovan may initially come across as a strong, sports-only-minded kid due to his phenomenal wrestling skills and muscular physique, he’s found art to be an important way of expressing himself.

He started attending the Greenville School of Art his junior year and received a scholarship to attend Newbury College to pursue a degree in graphic design!

They say it takes a village to raise a child. We’re glad that, in this (mill) village, we get to be the church that comes alongside awesome parents, like the Hawthorne’s, and contributes to “raising up a child in the way he should go.” (Proverbs 22:6)

For many of us attending Griggs at this point in its history, Donovan is one of the first kids we’ve seen enter into adulthood. He serves as a reminder that each child who comes through Griggs’ doors will soon be an adult in our community and we have a chance to influence these future leaders right now.

This article origionally appeared in Griggs Church’s community newspaper: Saltbox Quarterly.

Changing the World (By Changing the Way We Think About Dollar General)

What do you think about when you’re in Dollar General? Many folks think of only two things: getting what they need and getting out. But there’s something else to consider whenever you enter a convenience store, fast food restaurant, or gas station: the workforce.

What do you think about when you interact with the employees of Dollar General? Again, many folks think of only two things: ring up my stuff and get me out. They mindlessly tap on their phone as they simultaneously swipe their card for whatever they have to pick up on their way to wherever they’re going. The employee goes unnoticed.

Some folks don’t even think of people like Terese when they interact with an employee working for less than $15 an hour. If they do see them, it’s often in a negative light — assuming that they’re working a low-wage or minimum-wage job because they’ve rolled downhill in life and this is where they landed.

Ms. Terese, lying in bed after surgery. Photo by IsaacCropsey.com

They don’t see that many of these folks, like Terese, have been fighting an uphill battle and have overcome much to make it to employment.

Terese lives in Poe Mill. She is recently widowed and works at Dollar General. If you saw her working there, what would you think?

Would you think about how she woke up in a small house full of reminders of her late husband? Would you think about how she either walked to work that day or spent a significant portion of her daily wages to Uber there if the weather was bad?

Would you think about how she is thankful to be at her thankless job because, before that, she and her husband were homeless for a while?

Would you think about how you might make her day better rather than being a tough part of a tough day at a tough job?

She is among the best people you’ll ever meet. And you may not only get to see her, but you may get to meet her, and the hundreds of thousands of workers like her, if you change the way you think when you walk into places like Dollar General.

It starts with us all becoming more present in the moment, even routine, mundane, stop-along-the-way moments. Changing the way we think requires practicing awareness in the midst of the everyday.

Awareness means believing that Jesus sovereignly draws us into every place we go and He purposefully crosses our path with everyone we interact with while we’re there. It’s understanding that, to Jesus, the point of leading you to even the most everyday places may not be to buy your life with everyday people.

This is how Jesus lived. Jesus did some of his most incredible works while just sitting by wells, Ubering across the sea, walking down the street to the synagogue, and going out for a bite.

If you practice awareness and follow our incredible Jesus, you’ll realize you don’t have to be in incredible places to meet incredible people or for incredible things to happen as you interact with them.

If you don’t practice awareness, you may assume that a person like Terese is a dime a dozen. Maybe you’ll even assume she has it easy. She just has to show up, stand behind a cash register, and then go home and watch TV. She doesn’t know what it’s like to have a job or a life as hard as yours. You’re unique. Your day matters. Your time matters. Ring me up. Get me out.

Then the only incredible thing that will happen is your incredible rudeness when you verbalize your frustration with her for a decision that corporate executives have made. Or, her least favorite thing, you’ll show her incredible inconsideration when you fill up your cart and halfway through shopping decide you don’t want something, so instead of putting it back where you picked it up, you’ll just shove it onto the nearest shelf.

If you do that, you can be sure Terese doesn’t have it easy. Her job is now even more difficult because she has to run around putting all of your things back in the right spots, as someone waits frustratedly for her to return to the register.

She is thankful for her job at Dollar General. But she doesn’t have it easy.

IsaacCropsey.com

When we met with her recently, we saw that she was not just going home and watching TV. She was preparing to undergo surgery that will put her out of work for 6–8 weeks. She was trying to figure out how to pay the rent until she can re-apply and be rehired by a place like Dollar General. And she was a little worried about going stir-crazy while on bed rest.

We followed up with Terese after her surgery. It went well. We were able to connect her to a local organization that helped her with rent for at least one month so she could just rest. Her grandson comes and visits her. She has a friend coming over to check on her from time to time.

She’s going back to work soon. So perhaps next time you’re at Dollar General, you can see her, meet her, and make her, and her co-workers around the world, day better by simply changing the way you think when you walk into the store.

This article origionally appeared in Griggs Church’s community newspaper: Saltbox Quarterly.

Lasting Love for a Changing Neighborhood

Poe Mill has seen its fair share of challenges and changes over the years. Among its residents is Trudy Harper, a 73-year-old woman whose life story embodies resilience, faith, and community spirit.

Trudy has called this neighborhood home for over two decades. “God gave me this house. It was a miracle,” she says, recalling how she moved into her two-bedroom mill house with tall ceilings and the perfect screened-in porch for southern weather.

Ms. Trudy on her porch. Photo by IsaacCropsey.com

Talking with Trudy is refreshing. She is well aware of Poe Mill’s struggles, yet she is also witnessing its gradual gentrification. What does she think about the evolving landscape? She’d rather see houses repaired and restored than replaced altogether.

One of her greatest frustrations is the lack of help available for fixing up homes. As a widow, she can’t physically repair much of what’s broken, and she can’t afford to hire anyone to do it. Still, despite these challenges, Trudy’s joy never dims. Her love for her neighborhood — and her belief that positive change is possible through collective effort — keeps her going.

Trudy also recognizes that one of Poe Mill’s most painful problems is substance abuse. The impact of drug activity casts a shadow over many residents’ lives. But she refuses to succumb to despair. Instead, she draws strength from her faith and her own journey of overcoming addiction.

“God delivered me from alcohol. I don’t worry about alcohol anymore,” she says. “And I don’t worry at all no more because God’s got me.” Her advice for those struggling is to uncover the root of their unhappiness: “Things like jealousy will eat you alive.” She urges people to get into the Word — “Ask God to open up your understanding to what He is saying” — and to live with gratitude.

A proud member of Griggs, Trudy worships expressively. “If the trees can raise their hands, what’s wrong with God’s people?” she’ll say with a grin.

Despite the challenges of aging, she remains active, grateful, and full of life. “I’m 73, but I thank God I still get around,” she says, her resilience shining through.

When it comes to young people, Trudy hopes they’ll listen to the wisdom of the elderly, even when they don’t see eye to eye. “You can love everyone, even if you don’t understand them,” she often says. She worries that older residents are too easily dismissed simply because of their age.

“Young people criticize old people,” she notes, “but young people in this neighborhood are dying faster than old people.” Trudy is right.

Between gang violence and overdoses, Griggs has done roughly the same number of funerals for young adults as senior adults. She dreams of the two generations coming together to talk about life, stress, and addiction — conversations that could change the statistics. After all, many older residents, like Trudy, openly share their own past struggles.

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Trudy is always willing to talk with anyone. In her, Poe Mill has found a person of love — a woman whose unwavering faith, resilience, and compassion inspire everyone who knows her.

As Poe Mill continues to evolve, Trudy’s voice remains an important one.

This article origionally appeared in Griggs Church’s community newspaper: Saltbox Quarterly.

Remembering Griggs Grocery

With Daniel Franks

Daniel Franks stands in front of his childhood home, a few feet behind the former Griggs Grocery store.

Meet Daniel Franks. He and his family have lived in Poe Mill his whole life (over 40 years!). He loves Griggs Church. He was baptized here, married here, and was close with David Griggs and the whole family. I (Pastor Mitch) asked him a handful of questions about our church, the community, and the old Griggs Grocery store, and he was kind enough to answer and give us an incredible perspective on our history and neighborhood life.

How long have you and your family lived in Poe Mill? What’s been your family history when it comes to the mill?

I can stand on my porch and see every house my family lived in before buying our current house, which we bought from Mrs. Griggs.

My dad, Danny Franks, grew up in Poe Mill. My mother’s aunt lived in Poe Mill, and that’s how my dad met my mother. My daddy always said he would leave the mill hill when his toes were turned up. He passed away in June 2020. I feel the same way he did.

My grandfather went to the old Poe Mill Elementary School. 

Poe Mill is made up of many families like mine that have generational history in the neighborhood and still live here to this day.

How would you describe Poe Mill? What has changed about it over time? What has never changed?

I will say that when you need someone or something done, we all tend to lend a helping hand.

Today, a lot of the old mill houses are being upgraded. They’re more modern now.

I would be disappointed in myself if I didn’t tell a story about Mrs. Tinsley, who lived on the corner of 7th Ave. I struck up a friendship with her in middle school. Mrs. Tinsley would invite me for lunch during the summer when school was out. She would always say that she thought the neighborhood kids in the ’90s were nicer than the neighborhood kids of the ’70s.

Once I asked her why she said that, and she told me a story of two teens putting something very unpleasant in a bag and burning it on her porch.

Later I told my dad about the story, and to my surprise he said, “Son, that was me and Steve Garrett!”

In your own words, who was David Griggs?

David Griggs was one of the great men at Victory Baptist Church (before it was called Griggs). Mr. Griggs was a man who took on many traits. He would work on the rental properties he and his wife owned throughout Poe Mill. He’d always lend a helping hand at his grocery store, too.

What are some of your memories of him?

When it came to church, Mr. Griggs took on the role of choir director. I would be so excited when he would have us turn to my favorite song—page 333, I’ll Fly Away. Mr. Griggs would always check on me during the week. I remember going to the Griggs Grocery Store, and he would give me a Chocolate Soldier drink, a bag of Moore’s Ripple Barbecue chips, and a pack of peanut butter cheese crackers.

And they say behind every great man is a great woman. Mrs. Griggs was a sweetheart. I can remember sitting with her at church while Lil Fred, Robby, and Chad sat in the back row. They tried to get me to sit with them, but I didn’t because I was sitting with Mrs. Griggs, who was giving me chewing gum and candy for being good.

You lived right next to Griggs Grocery Store. What are some of your memories of the store itself?

Back in the 1980s, my daddy brought home $52 a week when he was employed by Piedmont Industries, which sat on the corner of the neighborhood. The rent back then was $30 a week.

Mama and Daddy would take the rest and go to Griggs Grocery to get hand-cut meats and fresh produce. The entire community knew they would be treated with kindness and charged a decent price while shopping at Griggs Grocery.

How have you seen Griggs Church live up to its name and continue the legacy of David Griggs?

Griggs Church has continued to put people first while leading them to grow spiritually. Roger and Arlinda Sexton have provided help to so many families in the neighborhood throughout the years, especially during the holidays.

The implementation of the summer program at Griggs helps our children reach for the stars. David Griggs would be so proud of the path the church is taking in his namesake.

Why Year-End Giving is Important

Griggs Church Summer Staff 2025. They shared their lives and the gospel with kids and youth all summer. Their ministry was made possible, in part, by our generous givers.

all photos by isaaccropsey.com

The West Side of Greenville is a place rich in history, filled with hard workers and local heroes who have contributed to the news-worthy Greenville we enjoy today. It’s also an area facing significant challenges—poverty, addiction, and limited resources for those trying to improve their lives.

Those of us who live on the West Side, and our friends from the East Side, often wonder, “How can we help? What can we do?”

One practical answer to these questions is to support the ministries and non-profits already serving the West Side, especially through year-end giving. 

"Year-end giving" refers to large, one-time gifts made to non-profits, often by corporations, between October and December. These donations are typically motivated, in part, by the desire to maximize tax deductions for that fiscal year. 

However, the term also applies to individuals looking to make a final, meaningful impact with the money they've earned throughout the year. It’s a strategic gift given at a time when most non-profits are thinking strategically, wondering what’s possible for the year to come. A year-end gift builds momentum for the non-profit and boosts them to the next level - enabling them to take big steps forward. 

I didn’t fully understand how catalytic year-end giving was until 2020 when our church experienced it firsthand. By God’s grace and your generosity, we were given a big boost forward. Here’s what happened:

The door to our Storefront church office made possible by end-of-year giving.

The property directly next to our building went on the market for $200,000. There were two structures on that property, a house and a storefront. We could see how both structures could be repurposed for ministry, but the price was far beyond our reach. So we didn’t even talk about buying it. 

After six weeks, no one had even seriously inquired about the property. It was still for sale. We started to wonder, “What if we got on social media and shared this opportunity? What if we simply asked if anyone would be interested in helping us buy the property? It can’t hurt to ask, right?” 

So, in late November of that year, we posted a humble Facebook video explaining the situation and sent out some emails to our supporters. One by one, people started to help us with year-end donations. So many people responded with a gift to our building fund that, by the end of December, we had raised $193,000. 

In the meantime, the property owner dropped the price to $170,000, because it still hadn’t sold. So in January of 2021, we were able to purchase the property next to our building and had funds left to begin renovations on the two structures. Our church was forever changed.

In 2022, one of our deacons, Roger Sexton, and his team fully renovated the house on the property, which we now use for ministry every single week. The following year, 2023, we began dreaming of converting the storefront on the property into offices and small group space. 

Last year in November and December of 2023 we launched another simple year-end campaign that brought in $82,000, along with a donation of labor from a local construction company. By God’s grace, this space is now being used for ministry each and every day.

For our small church, these projects would have been impossible without year-end giving. The generosity of others allowed us to move forward, and our mission is moving forward as well as we now have more space to do more ministry. That’s the power of year-end giving. 

There are a few factors that make year-end giving so potent. First, is the above-and-beyond generosity that comes with the season. At the end of the year, we naturally feel more grateful and inclined to give. Many non-profits notice they take in a significant portion of their revenue in this short season because it’s when people tend to give the most. 

Second, year-end giving is an opportunity to meet specific goals. Whereas regular, recurring gifts help non-profits operate steadily, year-end giving helps them tackle one big need and get a specific, extraordinary project done that they couldn’t manage on just their monthly budget. 

Finally, year-end giving helps non-profits see the future.  These donations allow non-profits to plan their budgets for the coming year, empowering them to dream up bigger and better ways to serve more people. 

If you’re unsure where to give but want to make an impact on the West Side of Greenville, consider supporting these non-profits: 

• Reconcile Community Church: Preaching the gospel in the Welcome community.

• Shelter Skate Church: Sharing the love of Jesus with skaters at the Poe Mill Skate Park.

• Neighborhood Focus: A bilingual community center empowering young people in Berea.

• Bel-Aire: Building relationships in Dunean and Judson through after-school programs and summer camps.

• PMAC (Poe Mill Achievement Center): Providing after-school care for kids in Poe Mill.

• Soteria CDC: Helping formerly incarcerated individuals reenter society through job training and housing.

• Mill Village Ministries: Offering bike repairs, healthy food, business support, and more. 

Yes, there are dozens more that deserve to be mentioned, this is just a starter list off the top of my head! Whoever I missed, I’m sorry! 

The point is that your year-end giving is a practical answer to the questions, "How can we help? What can we do?” It makes a real difference in the lives on the West Side. 

A “Saltbox” house in a mill village on the West Side of Greenville

At Griggs, we’re also praying for year-end support, particularly to expand our staff and thus expand our outreach to our neighborhood. Right now we have a staff of two, but we need to be a staff of four. We have a multi-year plan which includes, Lord willing, seeking executive and outreach ministers.  If you feel led to give to us in this season, we’ll gladly take the help. You can find out everything you need to know at supportgriggs.com/ebook.

I know that God will take care of our ministry and all of his ministries on the West Side.

The needs in West Greenville are great, but our God is greater.

Thus the potential for change is greater - greater than we can ever imagine. Let’s come together and step into what he is doing in this part of town. Plan now, steward well, give generously, and make a lasting impact.

History & Eternity: Revitalization at Woodside Baptist

Photos by IsaacCropsey.Com

In one of the hallways of Woodside Baptist Church, you’ll see a long line of golden picture frames holding portraits of former pastors who ministered in one of Greenville's most historic neighborhoods. It’s a powerful testament to the faithfulness of the church’s people and the grace of God over the church’s 120-year history.

The amazing building, which was rebuilt in 1961, feels like a portal into the neighborhood's rich history. On the walls and shelves, there are nods to the neighborhood's past and the past of the mill itself (which is now hundreds of luxury apartments).

Perhaps the era we’re most excited about, however, is the church’s most recent one: a concerted, gospel-driven effort to revitalize their church and reach their neighborhood.

Woodside Baptist Church

The church was blessed with great pastors, one of whom retired in 2020, which we all know was a very difficult season for churches. Having found themselves in a bit of a lull, but with hearts full of hope, the wonderful members of Woodside sought help with intentional revitalization over the next two years.

They connected with the Recommission Network, a ministry of Rocky Creek Baptist Church that seeks to revitalize and replant healthy congregations in the upstate. Their work has led to the revitalization of a handful of churches, with Woodside being the only one so far on the West Side.

Through their relationship with Rocky Creek, they met their current pastor, Bryce Staggs, who was working for the Recommission Network and is a perfect fit for the Woodside community, having spent a good portion of his ministry working for Miracle Hill.

In 2022, Bryce accepted the call to pastor Woodside and continue the hard work of maintaining their revitalization plan. Since then, he has guided the church through revamping several key areas of their building, as well as the ministry that takes place within them. He’s also been laser-focused on the church’s primary mission field: the Woodside neighborhood.

In 2014, Woodside was listed as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in South Carolina, according to the Greenville Journal. Additionally, it has been known for its high percentage of single-parent homes, which is well above the average of other neighborhoods its size.

Though the Woodside Mill, which was once the largest cotton mill in the entire world, housing more spindles than any other mill under one roof, is now modern apartments with high ceilings that rent for up to $2,500 a month, the rest of the neighborhood still has an average income well below the poverty line. In fact, neighborhoodscout.com indicates it’s on the more urgent end of the under-resourced spectrum.

Though the neighborhood faces many challenges, the people are incredible, hardworking, and willing to come together as a community. Woodside Baptist is doing a good job of cultivating that sense of community for Christ in ways both big and small.

One big way they reach out to their neighborhood is through their block parties. They’ve particularly found much success in what they call their “Back to School Bash.” “We were able to give school supplies to over 100 families!” Bryce said. “We went door to door in the Woodside community to invite families. This way, we knew that supplies were going directly to people in our community. We also had games, food, and shared the gospel with as many people as we could.”

Another big impact they’re making comes through their West Side Crisis Center, which is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9:30-11:30. Struggling families in crisis can apply each month to come to the center and gather free food, clothes, and essential items. Not only do they get access to physical help, but the kind volunteers at the crisis center also offer spiritual support through conversations and prayer.

Inside the Westside Crisis Center

One of our favorite ways they serve the neighborhood, however, is a simple table outside the bus stop for the local schools. It’s a ministry opportunity for the neighborhood that they call “Blessings at the Bus Stop.”

They simply give out snacks and prizes to the neighborhood kids as they get off the school bus. This has been so successful that kids from other bus stops have started walking over as well, allowing Woodside Baptist volunteers to get to know many of the families living right around their church.

Revitalizing a historic church is not without its trials. Besides the hard work of reinvigorating their ministry, the church has held 15 funerals in the last three years. There’s a lot of excitement about all the new things going on and the refocused direction of the church, but these members who are now with Jesus are sorely missed. The church honors them, remembering that the labor of members who’ve passed was not in vain. All of it was both fruitful in its time and still fruitful now as it paved the way for a new era of gospel proclamation.

“We want to keep being a church where you can come and hear the Gospel, get into groups where you can learn more about the Gospel, and then be sent out to live the Gospel,” Pastor Bryce says.

When asked why church revitalization, especially on the West Side of Greenville, is so important, Bryce said, “The enemy would love to see nothing more than a church close its doors. God loves the people of Woodside, and so should we! If we, as a church, focus on the will of God, He will do mighty things for His glory. We will get to share the gospel and make sure that underserved families know that somebody cares about them and loves them. Our goal is ultimately to bring people into the kingdom of God.”

Bryce doesn’t have a portrait with a gold frame around it in the hall. Perhaps they’ll hang one up after he retires, or perhaps by then the tradition will have changed. But everything Woodside is doing now is being recorded in the halls of heaven because, in addition to honoring history, they are making an impact in eternity. We’re praying for them here at Griggs, and we hope you are too.

Pastor Bryce Staggs

Advent Series 2025

This year, we’re calling our Advent series “On the Incarnation,” borrowing the title of a famous work by the early Christian pastor and theologian Athanasius of Alexandria.

In this series, we’ll root ourselves first and foremost in Scripture—walking through key biblical passages that explain Jesus’ coming to us as the God-Man. We’ll explore prophecies from Isaiah, the Christmas narratives in Luke 1–2, the Word made flesh in John 1, and several other texts that help us marvel at the mystery of the Incarnation.

Alongside these passages, each week we will also pair our sermon with a quotation from an ancient Christian teacher who defended the truth about Christ in their own generation. We’ll hear the voices of Cyril, Irenaeus, Gregory, and Athanasius.

These men lived only a short time after Jesus rose from the dead. While they might look scrupulous or stuffy to us—perhaps causing some to picture the kind of religious figures we see today walking around the Vatican—they were nothing of the sort. They lived long before most of the church traditions and controversies we have today.

They are often called “Church Fathers” because, historically, they lived close to the time of Jesus’ ministry and the testimony of the apostles. In fact, Irenaeus was discipled by a man who had been discipled by the apostle John.

These early pastors had to confront a variety of false teachers who tried to deny that the Word truly became flesh. One particularly influential figure was Arius, who rejected the divinity of Jesus and taught that He was merely a supreme man—not the God-Man. In response, these faithful leaders wrote letters, preached sermons, formed creeds, and fought for the truth of doctrines like the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and the bodily resurrection.

Of course, if you read them extensively, you will find places where you disagree with them. They were not perfect—and they never claimed to be. We are not saying these men are infallible; only Scripture is infallible. And we’re not saying they were holier or more saintly than any believer today. In Christ, all who believe are called saints. These men are not to be idolized.

But we can appreciate the role they played in preserving and clarifying the gospel for generations to come. And it’s remarkable to see that the truths they cherished are the same truths we proclaim today.

For example, consider this line from Athanasius…

What is he saying? That Jesus is God. Jesus is Creator. Jesus is a member of the Trinity. And through His work—the cross and resurrection—He is renewing all things. That’s the very gospel we believe!

Seeing how Christians throughout history have held tightly to these truths only strengthens our love for the gospel today.

We want everyone to know two things this Advent:

The gospel is ancient.
The gospel is global.

This matters deeply, because we live in a cultural moment where many young people are deconstructing their faith, often out of frustration with the American church. While we should always examine our frustrations and guard our hearts from pride—recognizing that the church would still have problems even if we were leading it—we must also remember that our disappointments with the modern church cannot undo the timeless truths about Jesus.

Christian doctrine didn’t originate in our cultural moment. It has been preached for millennia—taught, affirmed, and preserved across Asia, Africa, and Europe before it reached America.

Church history reminds us that just as Jesus pierced time and space to enter our world, He also pierces through our frustrations and disappointments, revealing Himself as He truly is.

So this Advent, as we consider ancient words about His first coming, we also lift our eyes and welcome the hope of His second coming—whenever He is ready to return.

We are grateful to celebrate Advent together: opening the Scriptures, learning from our Christian family across history, and worshiping the newborn King!

Understanding Communion

Here are some bullet points about communion, gathered with help from our ministry resident, Nate Labadorf.

• Communion is the covenantal meal of the Lord, ordained by Christ and delivered to His Church through the ages.

• The bread is the sign and mystery of Christ’s body, given for us and received by faith. We eat the bread in remembrance of Him.

• The cup is the sign of the New Covenant by Christ’s own blood poured out for many for the remission of sins and received by faith. We drink the cup in remembrance of Him.

• Communion is also a moment to look forward to Jesus’ coming Kingdom, where he will eat and drink with us forever.

• Christ is not divided and His Church is one. Therefore, all who belong to Jesus—whether members of our church or not—are invited to join us when we take communion.

• Communion is only for believers.

• Believers must examine themselves before taking communion, confessing and repenting of anything the Spirit brings to mind like sowing division, worshipping idols, or continuing in any pattern of sin.

• Of course, as we examine ourselves, we see how needy we are, and that’s exactly when we should take communion, giving thanks for the sacrifice of Jesus that meets all of our needs.

• Communion is more than a bare symbol of that sacrifice. It’s a means of grace by which we commune with Jesus through the work the Holy Spirit does when we partake of this sacrament.

A Look Back at FFFN 2025

All photos by isaaccropsey.com

“First Sunday”: After the Service

On the first Sunday of every month, we intentionally welcome Griggs Kids—ages six and older—to sit in the service with their parents.

Our primary goals in this are twofold:

1. To raise biblically literate children who are integrated into the life of the church.

2. To support parents in raising their children to participate in corporate worship.

We know this isn’t always easy. Kids who aren’t used to sitting upstairs may feel squirmy or restless. Parents may feel torn between correcting behavior and guiding their children to love the church from the heart.

But we’re all in the same boat. Let’s acknowledge that we all need help to “bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).

With that in mind, here are some simple, practical steps to help your kids engage with the Sunday morning service! 

Ways to Engage after the Service:

• Ask Questions: Ask questions to help your child process and understand what the service is all about. Here are some examples:

• What was one thing you learned from the sermon?

• How did the sermon make you feel?

• Is there anything you didn’t understand?

• What was your favorite part?

• Was there a song that you really liked? 

• Spend time with people after: Show your kids the importance of our church family and community by engaging with other members at the end of the service, plan a lunch out with some friends to continue the fellowship and discussion about the message. You can talk about the joy and acceptance we find in worshipping with our church family. 

• Provide encouragement and goals for future Sundays: It is important to take notice of all the things that your child did well during the service. Explain and provide some goals for things they may need to work on for future Sundays (reminding them and yourself that we are all learning and progress is better than perfection). 

Ways to Engage through the Week:

• Practice the application at home: If there was an application given at the end of the sermon, try to find ways to apply it at home for the whole family. During dinner, family devos, or a time that works best for your family, talk about how each of you tried to apply the sermon that day.

• Memorize a part of the passage through the week: Pick one or two of the verses preached on and hang them somewhere in the house. You can all practice meditating and memorizing the passage together and hiding it in our heart.

While training our children is hard work, Jared Bridges provides this encouragement:

 “Even if our kids don’t at first understand everything encompassed in the readings, singing, and preaching—and make no mistake, they won’t—they will at least understand the people who love them and stand beside them… In worship, we have the opportunity to introduce our kids to a taste of the eternal—God’s saints celebrating him together. At the least, attending worship with your child may prompt them to ask you the reason for the hope within you (1 Pet. 3:15). Transitioning kids to the worship service is difficult, but it’s a difficulty worth enduring. Yes, you may have a few months (or a few years) of distraction. But the distraction won’t last forever, and you’ll be building on something that will.” 

Cold Weather Shelter Chaplains

From Miracle Hill:

The Cold Weather Shelter season at the Greenville Rescue Mission is here! We need teams of men to come minister as volunteer chaplains!

We are in need to men willing to come and minister to the unsheltered homeless who come in on cold nights. We average 120 unsheltered men on cold winter nights. We need people willing to serve by encouraging these men, praying, sharing the gospel, and practicing a ministry of presence.

Interested?? Watch the video and read on…

What is a Cold Shelter Worker/Chaplain at the Greenville Rescue Mission?

A chaplain is a volunteer who functions in a ministerial capacity at the Greenville rescue Mission by embodying the presence of Christ, showing the compassion of Christ, and sharing the good news of Christ with those who come through our doors.

 What is the cold weather shelter?

When the temperature is forecasted to drop to 40 or below, we open up our cold weather shelter to those experiencing homelessness still living outside. Many are broken, intoxicated, cold, hurt, hungry, and are looking for a safe warm place to sleep. We open at 8pm, and close it around 7am the following morning. We serve a meal, offer a shower, and a mattress on the floor to sleep on.

 What does a chaplain do at the Greenville Rescue Mission?

A chaplain is present when we open up the cold weather shelter, and he would stay from 8-10pm. While he may assist in serving food and handing out some supplies, his primary task will be to engage in intentional conversation with the guests and listen to, encourage, share the gospel, and engage in the ministry of presence with the many different kinds of people and situations in the cold weather shelter.

We would prefer the chaplain be able to commit to once a week, but it can be more or less often if need be. There is flexibility, and there will be periods where the cold shelter will not open due to warmer temps. The more often and consistent, the better it will be for the chaplain and the men.

How often do I need to come?

We would like to see if you have a group of men from your church who could commit to covering a certain night of the week when the Cold Shelter is open. Not all of the men would need to come every time, but you could have a couple of men you could rotate in and out every week to share the load together. We are very flexible on how this might work for your group or individuals interested.

What are the qualifications to be a chaplain at the mission?

A chaplain must:

-Be a mature believer in Jesus Christ

-Agree with Miracle Hill’s doctrinal statement

-Have a sense of calling to this kind of work

-Be willing to learn and receive constructive feedback

-Be willing to engage in cold conversations and be able to share the gospel 

Ready to find out more or get started?

Please reach out to me, Jeremy Huff, or our volunteer coordinator Huff Campbell if you are interested or have any questions.

Huff Campbell: hcampbell@miraclehll.org

Jeremy Huff:  jhuff@miraclehill.org

Fall Family Fun Night 2025

Welcome! We’re very excited about FFFN 2025. FFFN is one of our favorite annual events and this will be our 10th in a row! Here is everything you need to know!

For those who are attending

Fall Family Fun Night is Sunday, October 26, 2025, from 4-6 p.m. at Park Place Church of God (221 Orders Street) right in the middle of the neighborhood. You can let us know you’re coming at this facebook event!

FFFN is a huge Trunk or Treat event in Poe Mill. Come on out and bring everyone you can. You can easily find parking in the lot out front of (or beside) Park Place’s main building.

Feel free to wear costumes or not, whatever you’d like. We will have inflatables galore, giant jenga, games of all kinds, face painting, free food, and more.

Restrooms are in the gym building. There are sensory friendly halloween baskets, candy, and toys available for the kids who need them. The event always goes extremely well and we've never had any issue, but since we always have large crowds (We expect 250-300 people) we have a security team in place so all our guests can feel looked after and super safe. 

Come and stay for however long you’d like any time between 4 and 6 p.m.

For those who are volunteering

If you haven’t yet, touch base with Julia Henderson (Julia@griggschurch.com) and she will let you know who your main contact/leader is for whatever you are doing. We need every volunteer there no later than 3:30 p.m. (though some volunteers are required to come at an earlier time, you will know who you are). Every volunteer gets a lanyard with a name tag in it, pick it up from the Welcome tent when you arrive.

At roughly 3:45/3:50 we will have a short time of prayer with Park Place Church of God volunteers at the sound tent. During the event, you can feel free to get some food, just make sure your activity is covered while you do. If you have any issues during the event ask your team leader, or Mitch, Carter, or Julia. Trunks can start packing up and heading out right at 6 p.m. The more people who stick around to help us clean up and tear down the better, but we do have a tear down team already in place. Pray for and lean on the spirit for divine appointments during the event.

You can find a complete volunteer guide at this google doc.

How to Pray for Our Church

Our church is built by, sustained by, and will continue by the grace of God. If our church succeeds it will be with a success defined by God and empowered by God. Thus, we need to be talking with God and listening to him concerting all things Griggs.

We desire every member to pray for the church every chance they get. But what do you pray for? How do you pray for the church? A simple grid to use is our own core values.

Jesus

• Pray that each and every member would strive to follow Jesus.

• Pray that we’d not be satisfied with being good people or moral people, but that we’d live like, walk like, talk like, and act like Jesus which is the “bullseye” of Christianity.

• Pray that our church as a whole would resemble Jesus, since we are specifically HIS body - the body of Christ.

• Pray that each of us individually would take our next step with Jesus.

• Pray that we would recognize where we are (our “Point A”) and have the courage to do what Jesus is calling us to do next  as his disciple (Point B).

Gospel

• Pray that each and every member would remember and stand firm in their gospel identity.

• Pray that we would all have a good understanding of things like justification (how we can be free from guilt because of Jesus’ cross) and righteousness (how we can be free from shame since Jesus loves us just as much as he everyone else).

• Pray that our elders and ministry directors would be able to lead others in the gospel.

• Pray that our leadership would be strengthened, stay on track, and focus on delivering the gospel over anything else (like growth, numbers, or programs).

Neighborhood

• Pray for any of our upcoming neighborhood outreaches.

• Pray for the any of our Neighborhood Network kids who come on Sundays at 4 p.m.

• Pray for any of the other Neighborhood or West Side churches like Park Place Church of God or Reconcile Community Church.

Prepping for “First Sundays” as a Family

On the first Sunday of every month, we intentionally welcome Griggs Kids—ages six and older—to sit in the service with their parents.

Our primary goals in this are twofold:

1. To raise biblically literate children who are integrated into the life of the church.

2. To support parents in raising their children to participate in corporate worship.

We know this isn’t always easy. Kids who aren’t used to sitting upstairs may feel squirmy or restless. Parents may feel torn between correcting behavior and guiding their children to love the church from the heart.

But we’re all in the same boat. Let’s acknowledge that we all need help to “bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).

With that in mind, here are some simple, practical steps to help your kids prepare for the Sunday morning service! 

Through the Week:

• First, prepare your own heart: Throughout the days before the first Sunday, take time to prepare your own heart for the Sunday morning service and how it may look different with your children upstairs that week. Ask prayerfully that God would give you patience and guidance and to have the commandments “on your heart” first to be able to teach it to your children as Deuteronomy 6:6-7 states. 

• Second, have "practice" services:  Find a time that works with your family schedule (maybe during family devotional time), and practice what sitting and listening will look like on Sunday morning and how to help keep our bodies calm and hearts ready to hear the Word of God. 

• Third, talk about how the Bible is the LIVING WORD of God (Hebrews 4:12): Discuss with your children about how powerful the Word of God is and how when we are studying the Scriptures at home or at church how it can see into our hearts and help us to grow in our understanding of God…and how the word is all about Jesus. 

The Night Before:

• First, read the passage that will be preached on that Sunday morning: Read through the passage and talk through any words they may not understand, talk about the main themes of the passage, and go over anything that may be hard for them to understand. 

• Watch a summary video of the book or show of the lesson being preached on: The Bible Project has great summary videos of each book of the Bible and different topics in scripture. Here is a link for 2nd Peter specifically. https://bibleproject.com/videos/2-peter/ Superbook also has lots of episodes that match different passages in Scripture. 

• Prep a church bag together: Pack a Bible, colored pencils, water, and potentially a few quiet activities (depending on your child’s age) to help keep them engaged during the sermon.

The Morning Of:

• Talk about the expectations for the morning: Talk about how excited you are for them to be joining you for worship and discuss how to listen, not disrupt others, how communion works, and how to get your attention quietly if they need something. 

• On the drive to church, pray as a family: Help prepare everyone’s heart for the morning, by praying for God to give everyone open ears and hearts to the message. You can have each child pray for something specific, have a parent lead the prayer, or have each person pray to themselves. 

• Make a plan for the service: Talk about the “game plan” for the service with your child. Here is an example one:

• Donuts when we arrive

• Go to the bathroom before the service starts

• We’ll sing 2 songs and have scripture reading, then you can start to color your booklet.

• About halfway through the service, you can get something out from your activity bag

• Towards the end, mom/dad/gurdian will help you put your things away 

• We’ll sing more songs and then you can go play with your friends until it's time to go home  

These are just a few things you can do to help your child prepare for corporate worship. It can be challenging to disrupt routines, and do new things, but our goals for “First Sunday’s” are worth it!

Cookbook FAQ’s

Why are we making a cookbook?

Because it’s more than a cookbook. It’s a collection of stories from our church, beautifully bound to celebrate 10 years of revitalization. It also reaches back into the long, rich history of our church and neighborhood.

Pastor Mitch and other volunteers are writing the church’s story for the introduction so that anyone—inside or outside our church—can marvel at what Jesus has done in Poe Mill.

What if I don’t have a special recipe?

That’s fine! You can even share one you found online—just make sure it’s something you’ve made (or would make) for friends at Griggs. And you can submit more than one recepie!

Our goal is twofold: to collect recipes that are usable, But even more so to celebrate the fact that YOU  were here, breaking bread with fellow members.

While we can all google recipes, this project is about taking part in tradition. For generations, small, village churches in the Midwest and South have created cookbooks like this.

How exact does my recipe need to be?

Do your best, and we’ll fill in the blanks during editing. It doesn’t have to be perfect. For example, Pastor Mitch submitted a fajita recipe with the instructions: “Cook the meat until it’s done—you’ll just know when it’s done.”

So no pressure—just share what you can!

How do I submit a recipe?

Use the official form from the newsletter, or simply send us a screenshot of a recepie, a photo of a recipe card, or an email with a link. You can send it to Amanda, Mitch, or Julia Henderson or info@griggschurch.com

What will the cookbook look like?

A high-quality, hardcover book—something you’d find at Barnes & Noble:

• Portrait 8”x10”

• Full color

• 80lb satin paper stock

• Adhesive case wrap with matte finish

• Custom internal cover pages featuring the painting of the river behind our baptismal

Sayings from the Spindle

Photo by Isaac Cropsey (isaaccropsey.com)

One fascinating part of Mill Village life is its vocabulary. The West Side has a long history of unique words and phrases that come from our textile heritage. You could fill a dictionary with each neighborhood’s distinct language. 

We, at Saltbox, started studying these nicknames and idioms, tracking down their uses, and verifying their authenticity. Here are a few we got a hold of this quarter with help from our friends in the F.W. Poe Textile Heritage Society Facebook group. 

Mill Hill: This was a general term used for the neighborhood surrounding a mill. It didn’t matter if it was on a hill or not. Mill villages could be laid on completely flat ground. They were still called Mill Hills.

Looper Room: This was where workers, usually women, sat to sew the toes of socks—just the toe part. It was repetitive and boring, but it was steady work. You could talk with your co-workers all day (which wasn’t as easy in other parts of the mill due to noisy machinery), so it’s assumed a lot of mill village news was passed along in the looper rooms.

Water House: This was what they called the restrooms. Some say mill workers were not given almost any work breaks by their employers, so they took unofficial breaks by saying they were going to the water house, when really they’d be having a snack or just catching their breath. This loitering around the water house became known as “water house squatting” and was apparently quite prevalent. 

Linthead: A nickname—sometimes affectionate, sometimes not—for someone who worked in the mill. Mill employees often had lint stuck to their hair and clothes after work which made them easily noticeable amongst the general population. Most mill workers considered the term a badge of honor.

Operative: This is what management called mill workers who ran looms and other textile machines. It’s a prestigious step forward from “linthead.” 

Dope Wagon: Not what it sounds like! In the early days of Mill Village life, "dope" was slang for soda. So a dope wagon referred to a snack cart that would drive around the neighborhood selling sodas and sandwiches—almost like today’s food trucks. One historian tipped us off to the fact that Eugenia Duke, of the famous Duke Sandwich Company, served sandwiches out of these carts in the very early days of the company when she was just getting started. We still have a Duke Sandwich Company serving Eugenia’s incredible recipes right outside of Poe Mill on Poinsett Highway!

Saltbox: We can’t not include this one. This refers to standard mill village homes with slanted roofs. Hundreds were built beside each mill in the Textile Crescent. These houses were specifically chosen for their structure, which proved to be especially long-lasting, persevering, and sturdy. The people who inhabit these houses embody those same good qualities. 

Easy Wins for Parents on “First Sunday”

On the first Sunday of every month, we intentionally welcome Griggs Kids—ages six and older—to sit in the service with their parents.

Our primary goals in this are twofold:

1. To raise biblically literate children who are integrated into the life of the church.

2. To support parents in raising their children to participate in corporate worship.

We know this isn’t always easy. Kids who aren’t used to sitting upstairs may feel squirmy or restless. Parents may feel torn between correcting behavior and guiding their children to love the church from the heart.

But we’re all in the same boat. Let’s acknowledge that we all need help to “bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).

With that in mind, here are some simple, practical steps to help your kids engage with the Sunday morning service, even at a young age:

Before Service

• Teach your children about the body of Christ throughout the week. Remind them: “Jesus put together the church. It’s His family, it’s our family, and we gather to worship Jesus, hear from Jesus, and share life with one another.”

• Set expectations before Sunday morning. Say something like: “I’m so excited for you to come to service with me! Do you remember how we behave in service? We listen, we don’t distract others, we sit in our spot, we pass the plate, we sing, and we whisper when we need something.”

• Get them involved with preparing a church bag. On Saturday, encourage your child to gather their Bible, a pen, and a highlighter. If they need a small, quiet toy or extra paper, let them add that as well.

During Service

• Give your kids the job of opening the hymnals. This helps them practice finding the right hymn, learn songs, and pay attention to the words.

• Let them find the passage in the Bible. Encourage kids to bring their Bibles, locate the book and verses, and even highlight or underline key phrases.

• Use the special bulletins we provide on First Sundays. These are designed to go along with the sermon and help children follow the teaching.

After Service

• Ask questions. Invite your kids to share what they heard or saw. Do your best to answer, or look for the answer together.

• Talk about your spiritual family. Tell your kids about some of your friends who were in church that day and how much it means to worship Jesus with them.

• Encourage and correct. Compliment your child for moments they were engaged, and explain why certain parts of the service are important whenever correction is needed.

• Pray with and for your children. This could be before service, thanking God after service, or quietly praying for them during the service.

There’s always more we can do to train our children to worship the Lord and join with His people. But let’s not overlook the basics. By starting small and staying consistent, we can patiently build a strong foundation for our kids’ understanding of—and relationship with—corporate worship.

Griggs Cookbook Project

By Amanda Peeler

Griggs has a reputation for many things in the neighborhood of Poe Mill. Griggs is known for its corner presence on Poinsett Highway. It’s also known for our church van that has picked up kids in the neighborhood for the Kids Ministry for generations. But most notably, Griggs is well known in the community for memorable and meaningful times of fellowship around amazing food. 

When I was a teenager at Griggs in the early 2000s, some of the highlights of the year were the whole church going to either Olive Garden or Outback for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. We could do that because there were only about 10 members at Griggs at the time. It was a time of joy and fellowship. I was the youngest person in the group and would usually receive a lot of encouragement. Arlinda would always bring a delicious cake from Strossner’s and would always give me the biggest piece. The coolest part was that Pastor Yeomans would eat a whole Bloomin’ Onion by himself before the entrees came out. 

More recently, some of our weekly routines at Griggs revolve around meals. When Mitch first came to Griggs and started church revitalization, we had coffee and doughnuts in the downstairs fellowship hall, where the nursery is now. It was a time to chat and hang out before the service, and it was always such an encouraging time. Now it’s turned into coffee and doughnuts on the porch, which allows even more people to hang out and fellowship before the service. 

One of our new favorite times of fellowship is our Summer Wednesday Night Dinners, where small groups take turns providing meals for the church. It is the absolute best time to come share a meal and connect as a church. I might be biased, but the Marriage small group always has the best meal you could have for dinner: breakfast. 

In an effort to tell the story of what God has done and is doing at Griggs through the breaking of bread together, we are compiling recipes and stories into a church cookbook. You may not have heard of a church cookbook. It really is just what it sounds like- a cookbook compiled of recipes from the people of the church.

This new project is the Griggs Cookbook. And we need your help. We would love for you to share a recipe. You could also submit a story you have about having a meal with someone at Griggs. We know so many connections have been made through meals at Griggs, and we would love to hear your story.

Link to Recipe Entry Form