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

MINISTRY PARK: POE MILL’S MINISTRY HUB

If you walk up the street from the skatepark, where Poe Mill once stood, you'll see two church buildings sharing a yard. That yard is called "Ministry Park."

Why are there two churches sharing a yard? Because, in the earliest days of the mill village, everyone went to church. Mill employees wanted a place of worship close by, just like their mill-owned general store and elementary school. However, they didn’t all belong to the same denomination, so they built two churches—one for the Baptists and one for the Methodists. Today, the old Poe Mill Methodist Church is home to River of Life Ministries.

Fast forward about 100 years. The mill has shut down. Many in the neighborhood and surrounding areas are in need. Poinsett Highway has become a refuge for the homeless. And several ministries visit the neighborhood each week, bringing food, essential items, and the gospel. 

One problem these ministries face is that they struggle to find a consistent place to set up. And that’s important. People need to know where to find help, and ministries need a stable location to serve effectively.

That’s where the idea for Ministry Park was born.

A few Christians ministering in Poe Mill put their heads, time, and energy together and came up with a plan. They used their own resources to build a pavillion in the yard between the two churches.

There’s ample space under the pavilion for worship, with the rest of the yard available for picnic tables and seating to serve meals. There’s already a playground on the property and enough green space for kids to play and people to gather.

A large shed was also built to store sound equipment, essential items, tables, chairs, Bibles, songbooks—everything needed to run a ministry. That means if you’re a ministry leader, all you have to do is show up and serve.

That’s the big idea behind Ministry Park, and that’s how it works.

For a long time, a ministry called "Tuesday Night Friends" met at the park to give out food and clothes, sing, and teach. 

Today, "Nothing But Jesus Street Ministries" meets there every Saturday at 4 p.m. They usually partner with a local church group to provide food. Volunteers set up a serving line, and folks from the neighborhood and homeless community come through, receiving a meal while singing hymns and hearing a short devotional message.

Scott Wienart, who helped set up the pavilion and shed, leads "Worship in the Park" every Sunday at 4 p.m., where he serves food and teaches the Scriptures.

Additionally, the park is open for all neighborhood ministries to use any time. Grace and Peace Presbyterian has hosted many ministry events there. Park Place Church of God once ended their Christmas parade at Ministry Park, where dozens of neighbors gathered to sing carols and drink hot cocoa. Our church, Griggs, has also used the park on several occasions.

One summer, we held each of our Wednesday night services at Ministry Park. We’ve also hosted our spring block parties there for years—including one this past quarter!

One of the key figures behind the scenes is Jack Smith. No one serves quite like Jack.

Jack keeps Ministry Park running smoothly. He organizes the shed and knows where everything is. He anticipates needs for each event or ministry and comes prepared. He’s on-site at every function, welcoming people and troubleshooting any problems that arise.

Whenever Griggs uses the park, Jack is our go-to guy. He arrives early, opens the shed, and sets up tables, chairs, the grill—whatever’s needed. And he’s almost always the last to leave, making sure everything is cleaned up and put away.

Jack has a deep passion for Ministry Park. His favorite thing about it? Seeing churches and ministries from different Christian traditions come together to preach the same gospel. Having been homeless himself at one point, he has a particular heart for the homeless ministry happening in the park. He is patient with those in need, ensures they have a good experience, and has even been known to open his home to them.

When we asked Jack about his vision for the park, he didn’t hesitate— ”baptisms.” He envisions more and more people coming to Jesus and getting baptized right there in the park (which has already happened using a hose and a large silver trough).

The dream is to expand Ministry Park’s reach, creating a community center on the lot behind River of Life Ministries. This space would meet a variety of needs—ESL classes, job training, and continuing the weekly ministries indoors during the winter months.

Ideally, formal ministry would happen at the park every day, from weeknight gospel singing to Saturday kids' events. Fundraising has already begun at River of Life Ministries to make this vision a reality. If you’d like to donate or get involved, we’d be happy to connect you with Jack or River of Life.

Ministry Park is more than a space—it’s a place where the gospel is lived out, where the church comes together, and where the love of Christ meets people’s greatest needs. 

Griggs Kids: First Sundays

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.

Why First Sundays Instead of Family Sundays?

In the past, Griggs attempted to meet these goals by hosting Family Sundays, which included all children (ages 0–10) in the service with us. We are thankful for that experience and it certainly was helpful in in its time. However, we have way more kids at Griggs now than when we started Family Sundays. So we believe First Sundays will better accomplish the goal for our current needs and also improve upon some of the challenges we faced during Family Sundays.

On Family Sundays, the number of babies and toddlers in the service often overwhelmed the room. As a result, the older children—those most ready to begin learning worship habits—struggled to hear the sermon and engage in worship.

Additionally, Family Sundays were only happening on months where there was a fifth week. This was too infrequent to serve as a healthy, gradual transition for kids moving from children’s ministry into corporate worship. Finally, the focus tended to shift toward simply “having kids in the room,” rather than truly integrating them into the life of worship.

Our aim is not to say that children’s worship is more important than that of others in the congregation, but rather to bring children into worship in a way that serves both them and the whole church body.

We believe First Sundays accomplish this balance. By integrating children more frequently, but in a more manageable way (only 6-10 year olds)—we give them meaningful opportunities to participate in worship while supporting parents as they train their children.

First Sundays are also ideal because the sermon is typically shorter, and believing children may take part in communion with their families.

Supporting Parents

We want to come alongside parents as they guide their children into the life of the church. To that end, we will:

• Provide kid-friendly bulletins (workbooks) that match the sermon, encouraging children to bring their Bibles, listen carefully, and take notes.

• Make a basket of resources available at the welcome table for parents to choose from, such as pens, highlighters, light-colored playdough, or gummy snacks. Parents can take only what they feel is helpful for their child, rather than each child receiving the same pre-made goodie bag.

• Offer materials to help parents explain aspects of worship to their children, from using hymnals, to listening to sermons, to understanding the sacraments.

We will also post articles in the newsletter with practical ideas—such as how to set expectations before Sunday morning or how to prepare a “church bag” with a Bible, pen, highlighter, and perhaps a quiet toy or some paper.

A Gentle Transition

Our hope is that First Sundays will give parents a smoother way to transition their children into corporate worship. Rather than going from none of your children in the service to all of your children in the service, you can focus on guiding your older children first, helping them learn what it looks like to worship as part of the body of Christ, then your younger kids when the time comes.

We know there will be a learning curve. Kids are kids—they will feel bored at times, get antsy, and even make some noise. That’s okay. We love them! Which is why we’re trying obey Christ’s command to teach and train them in the knowledge of God. We’re looking for progress, not perfection.

Griggs Church & Baptism

What is Baptism?

Baptism is when a believer is immersed in water before witnesses, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is a public proclamation—to God and to God’s people—of faith in Jesus Christ: the crucified, buried, and risen Savior who has forgiven sins and given eternal life.

Going under the water powerfully demonstrates our death to sin and its power, while rising from the water signifies our resurrection to new life in Christ (Romans 6:3-4).

We believe baptism is more than just a symbol, though it certainly symbolizes gospel truth. It is a sacrament, instituted by Jesus in the Great Commission. It is a means through which God gives sanctifying grace—not through the water itself, but through the Holy Spirit working in our obedience to Christ’s command.

Baptism sanctifies the one being baptized by confirming God’s love in their heart and giving them a moment to look back on for strength in future trials. It also sanctifies the church as a whole by proclaiming the gospel and reminding us that it is still at work in the world.

Why Do We Baptize?

We baptize because:

• Jesus commanded His followers to do so in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20).

• It is an outward, public declaration of inward faith in Christ.

• It visibly proclaims the gospel to the watching church and world.

• It strengthens and encourages both the believer and the congregation.
  

We do not believe baptism saves anyone—salvation comes by grace alone, through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).

We also do not baptize infants, since baptism is for those who have personally professed faith in Christ.

We baptize once for each believer. If someone was baptized before truly trusting in Christ, we may baptize them again after genuine faith.

Eligibility for Baptism

We baptize those who can clearly articulate their faith in Jesus and demonstrate an understanding of what baptism is and why they desire it.

Our general practice:

• Candidates are known to the congregation and have attended for at least 6–8 weeks.

• Baptism is typically a prerequisite for church membership.

• Willingness to commit to our church community (or partner church) is expected.

We may ask someone to wait if:

• They are walking in unrepentant sin.

• They are wrestling with significant doubts about core doctrines.

• They are unable to explain the meaning and purpose of baptism.

This pause is never out of judgment, but out of love—to ensure baptism is a deeply joyful and meaningful milestone in a believer’s walk with Jesus.

Kendall’s Grill

On Blue Ridge Drive in the Monaghan neighborhood, there’s a restaurant just as passionate about people as it is about food. Their mission is simple: “Real people, real food.”

“We’re relationally driven as much as we are quality driven,” says Kendall Tolston, the owner of Kendall’s Grill.

Kendall began working at the restaurant back when it was Bikas Drive-In. At 13, he would walk there from his home in the Berea area on the West Side. Over time, he developed a love for the food industry. When Bikas was set to close, 18-year-old Kendall bought the place and made it his own.

Now 28, with culinary school and a decade of restaurant ownership under his belt, Kendall continues to serve his community. Kendall is open about his faith in Jesus and views his work as ministry. Christian music often plays overhead, and he has built meaningful relationships with a loyal base of regulars. He’s also hired friends in need of a fresh start during tough times.

According to kendallsgrill.com, “All active-duty police, military, EMS, and firemen receive a 50% discount on their meal.All teachers and school district employees receive a 15% discount, and every Tuesday night children from our community eat for free.”

It’s impressive, especially when you realize that none of the food is frozen— everything is fresh and expertly prepared before dawn. Walk into Kendall’s Grill and you’ll find a retro, 70’s-style joint with an orange roof and vintage signs adorning the walls. There are nods to Pepsi, Texaco, and even a tribute to the old Bikas Drive-In.

Guests can sit wherever they’d like—there are outdoor tables with orange umbrellas, a countertop bar, and plenty of booths. The food philosophy is: “Simple food, done right.” You can order a salad, a sandwich, or one of their 30 different milkshakes. Personally, I love their burgers. To Kendall’s, “Burgers are life.” If you order the John Wayne or Johnny Cash burger, you’ll leave satisfied.

Restaurant longevity is a challenge, with some statistics claiming most don’t make it past year three. When I asked Kendall about his success, he said the key is to “figure out what your neighborhood actually wants to eat and serve them accordingly.”

He recalled trying to get too fancy with breakfast options, which didn’t sell well. So he simplified the menu, and now has a steady stream of hungry neighbors walking in each morning.

His approach reminded me of something Jesus taught 2,000 years ago that applies to every part of life: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” (Matthew 7:12).

We hope all of you, near and far, will make your way over to Kendall’s Grill. Kendall will shake your hand, ask your name, chat with you, and make you a burger—all at the same time.

Family Rooms

If you ever have a small child or baby with you in service that is getting fussy, but you still want to hear the sermon, we have two great spaces for you to use. We intentionally and carefully carved out these spaces for all of our great moms to use so that they could experience as much comfort as possible during service.

There is a room behind the sanctuary for mothers and babies. It’s immediately to your left as you come up the front steps. There is a couch, crib, chair, and changing table, toys, bottle warmers, and a live stream of our worship service.

Additonally, at the very bottom of the stairs, the first room is for moms or dads with any of their kids. Again, there are places to sit, everything a kid could need, and you can watch the service from there as well.

Even though our building is a little small (and our congregation is growing!) We want to strive to make our church to be as approachable as possible for all our young families.

Giving at Griggs

One of financial hopes at Griggs is to simply be a church where everyone is giving something.

You may be tempted to think that this is a vague, low bar. We would disagree, as it’s a bar virtually no church measures up to. One of the biggest issues many churches face financially is that only a small number of their regular attenders give regularly, and only a slightly larger group than that give anything at all.

A church where everyone gives something would be a spectacle.

Now, when when say, “everyone” we mean everyone who is capable. There are some people coming to us with nothing. We’re not talking about them. We’re also not talking about those whom the scriptures tell us to give to, like orphans, widows, and sojourners.

And, When when say “something” we do so intentionally. According the New Testament, giving is not about an exact percentage or an amount, it’s about following Jesus - seeing the need he leads you to see, meeting the needs he leads you to meet, and enjoying the journey.

Paul put it this way in his famous teaching on giving in 2 Corinthians 9:7 which states, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Paul essentially tells the Corinthian church members who are capable of giving that every one should give something.

Everyone or “Each one.” Each member.

Giving something. As in, whatever “they have decided in their heart.”

At Griggs, this leads many folks to give a regular gift to the church. Perhaps it’s always a specific portion of their income, as that’s what their conscience has directed. Or, for some of you, this may lead to a more sporadic giving, where you give larger gifts once in a while and then go long stretches of time where you’re not able to give.

For others, this may mean just giving whatever you can when you can, even if it seems “small” to the human eye. We have had more than a few faithful members dump a zip lock bag of spare change into the offering plate. That is by no means “small” to heavenly eyes.

The only thing following 2 Corinthians 9:7 would discourage is capable givers giving nothing.

We don’t believe it’s spiritually healthy for you to regularly attend and benefit from the church without giving something financially. And we don’t believe it’s what’s best for the body of Christ and our mission.

What would be healthy is if we got to a place where everyone in the church considered the needs of the church as part of their own needs. We would meet the needs of Jesus’ body just like we do our own body. It would be like the early church where they, “had all things in common.”

By God’s grace, we are meeting many needs in and outside of the church. And yet we are blown away by our potential to serve Jesus and Poe Mill in even greater ways in the future if our entire church is giving something that God laid on their hearts. Especially since, when we give financially, we tend to give more energy, effort, and enthusiasm along with it. After all, our savior revealed to us that where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also…

Serving Teams at Griggs

If you’re interested in serving at Griggs, here’s a simple list of common places people jump in:

• Welcome team: Handing out coffee and doughnuts on the porch before church.

• Audio/Visual: Using the sound board and camera equipment to ensure everyone can hear and see the service on Sunday morning.

• Griggs Kids: Ministering to preschool through fifth-grade kids during a worship service through crafts, teaching, and games.

• Nursery: Ministering to infants and toddlers during the service by providing them a safe, clean place to play and rest.

• Worship team: Leading the congregation in musical worship.

• Ushering: Passing the offering plate and the Lord’s Supper to the congregation.

• Griggs Groups Leadership: Leading a small group of men or women each week through a biblical discussion and time of prayer.

• Hosting for services: Welcoming in prayer, announcements, Scripture reading, and closing in prayer from the stage during a worship service.

• Hospitality: Meal trains for members who are sick or just had a baby. Hosting special parties for members passing exciting milestones.

• Mentorship: Meeting with men in a local rehab (Miracle Hill) to simply encourage and help them through a new chapter in their life.

We know all these will need further explanation and of course there are countless ways to serve that aren’t listed. But once you get an idea of where you’re interested in starting out, reach out for a conversation with a church leader in person or by emailing info@griggschurch.com.