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aMina
Students head to
churches within a mile
of campus
Deirdre Kronschnabel
Contributor
(gPKmnsch
Every Sunday morning, about
10 students attend of one of
three church services by taking
a five- to 10-minute walk from
campus.
Follow Ball Park Road west from
the Elon Fire Department to reach
Elon First Baptist Church at 113
Lynn St. Or cross the street from
the Danieley Center entrance to
the doors of First Baptist Church of
Elon at 621 E. Haggard Ave.
For an even shorter path to
prayer, join the Elon Community
Church at 271 N. Williamson Ave.
James Wilkes, pastor at Elon First
Baptist Church (EFBC), has approx
imately 300 members in his con
gregation, including small groups
of Elon students and 10-15 Elon
faculty and staff members on any
given Sunday. The church continu
ally works to improve its efforts of
outreach to Elon students.
“We are working to have an af
ter-school tutorial program, and
we’ll need as many undergraduate
college student volunteers as pos
sible,” Wilkes said. “In 2017, we
will have a newly appointed college
ministry to promote more college
outreach.”
Currently, EFBC hosts an annu
al College Day service during the
month of October.
“We invite the Elon University
ELON FIRST BAPTIST
CHURCH COLLEGE DAY
When: 11 a.m. Oct 30
Where: 113 Lynn St
What: Finn University gospel
choir sings, members wear
their favorite collegiate attire
and free food is provided
gospel choir to sing,” Wilkes said.
“All college students are encouraged
to attend, and our members wear
their favorite collegiate attire. We
also feed the students after the ser
vice.”
This year’s EFBC College Day
will be at 11 a.m. Oct. 30.
Less than a mile away, the First
Baptist Church of Elon is also work
ing to attract and worship with more
undergraduates and staff members.
Currently, about 10-15 students of
the 160 congregation members are
considered regular attendees.
“We would love to see more
students engaged in our many so
cial ministries,” said Mason Fuller
Smith, senior pastor for the church.
“We are equally eager to be a part of
the university’s efforts to meet the
needs of the community. If there are
clubs, organizations, or other groups
that are working to alleviate poverty,
crime, substance abuse or other so
cial concerns, we would be happy to
support you in your efforts.”
The First Baptist Church of Elon
works closely with the university to
host sorority events, provide fellow
ship to international students and
organize a reading day for students
to have a quiet, supportive place to
CHURCHES WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF CAMPUS
KEY
O Lion First Baptist Church
O First Baptist Church
|Eion Community Church
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study. The event includes free Wi-Fi,
free food and even a personal mas
seuse.
The church also takes a more
individual approach to student sup-
port.
“Many of our church mem
bers have developed very personal
and supportive relationships with
students, even adopting’ them as
home-away-from-home ‘parents’
and ‘grandparents,’” Smith said. “We
strive to provide community and
love.”
The Elon Community Church
(ECC) shares similar goals.
“We have always enjoyed our re
lationship with the Elon University
community,” said the ECC Rev. Sha
ron Wheeler. “We want to continue
to be a good neighbor and church,
welcoming every student no matter
where they are on life’s journey^
The church has a longstanding
relationship with the university and
even celebrates mass with a “fa
mous” member — Dr. Earl Danie
ley, former Elon president.
While many retired faculty and
staff are members of ECC, Elon
student attendees are inconsistent
and hover around six to eight on
Sundays. Three of these students are
paid choir soloists.
To draw in Elon students and
support the community, ECC’s uni
versity relations committee organiz
es events geared toward college stu
dents throughout the academic year.
Last month, the church hosted
its annual a Dog Day Mixer, inviting
students to come and relieve stress
with some animal therapy. This
winter, ECC is sponsoring another
event — a chili and bingo night.
“We make it a food drive for Al
lied Churches, and students bring
cans to the event,” Wheeler said.
“They eat some great chiU and en
joy a great night of bingo with some
.
AlfX TOMA I Designer
awesome prizes. We have made it a
competition between organizations,
and the organization that wins the
most games gets a donation to their
charity of choice.”
ECC reaches out to student orga
nizations, such as athletic teams and
service fraternities, in other ways,
too.
“The softball team helps us in
serving meals at the homeless shel
ter, as has the cross country team,”
Wheeler said. “The softball team also
helps us with our annual Halloween
Party, and I have had women’s track
help me with the Easter Party.”
Though they have a small student
following, the nearby Elon religious
communities are only a walk away,
waiting with open arms and encour
aging all students and faculty to join
in worship or stop by for a commu
nity event.
“We love Elon,” Smith said. “We
are here for you.”