Ministry on the Margins at Southside COG

Southside Church of God is committed to sharing the Good News of God’s love! This October, Southside is celebrating 40 years of ministry in Staunton and looking forward to many more years to let people know Jesus is the Savior we need for every area of life. Besides our normal church activities, we engage in regular ministry in the community.

Our greatest outreach is at Augusta Nursing and Rehab Center in Fishersville. Southside has been involved with this facility for over 14 years. The residents of ANRC look forward to their services with Pastor Phillip, and we enjoy being a part of their worship time. Pastor Phillip visits with residents every week, whether they are part of long-term care or short-term rehab. Over the years, Southside has held a baptism at ANRC, distributed gifts at Christmas and other holidays, passed out sermon CDS to encourage the residents, and shared the love of God with many people. Please check our Facebook page and watch the video of Pastor Phillip and his interview with a former resident of ANRC (“Meet Bill”). Bill was at ANRC for rehab and is now a part of the Southside congregation. You will be blessed by what he has to say.

Orchard Lane Day Support, a facility that offers care services for adults with special needs, is another organization that is part of Southside’s ministry “outside the four walls”. Once a month, Pastor Phillip and some of the congregation head there to sing hymns with clients. They are always excited to see us. One person in particular is very fond of the old favorite “I’ll Fly Away” and immediately starts asking to sing that song when Pastor Phillip arrives.

Southside’s other outreaches usually occur under the umbrella of one of our church groups. For example, our youth and our women’s ministry partnered with Together We Rise to provide decorated duffel bags for children in foster care. We try to participate in a similar type of project or event once or twice a year. Another example is the benevolence arm of Southside. M.A.N.N.A. Food Pantry began by taking quarterly collections of canned goods and other non-perishable foods to distribute by referral; but since then, M.A.N.N.A. has morphed into supporting in many areas and focusing less on food boxes. M.A.N.N.A. Outreach currently works with the Salvation Army to provide gifts and food at Christmas for families in need, boosts those who require a little extra help with groceries, and aids those in distress. The most recent assistance was to collect supplies and funds for West Virginia flood relief projects. A member of the church coordinated a collection for Rainelle, West Virginia, and delivered much-needed supplies in July. Later, our M.A.N.N.A. Outreach director spearheaded the project “Together Helping Those In Need” for the Shenandoah District. Southside was the drop-off point for the district’s donations that were delivered to Richwood, WV courtesy of Grand Home Furnishings of Harrisonburg. We really appreciated Grand using one of their big trucks for delivery!

People great and small need to hear about Jesus and see His love in action. We are happy to be a part of what God is doing and to spread the true Gospel in the Staunton area.