Calling all Cooks! This Friday is First Presbyterian Church’s annual men’s culinary cook-off to benefit the church’s local and international mission work.

Not only is this event a really good time, but the proceeds support several worthy causes on the international and local levels.

Funds raised at this event have made a difference in the lives of many people. For instance, Dr. Chuck Borum and his team just recently completed their second medical mission to Haiti, where poor living conditions, malnutrition, lack of transportation and money contribute to a health care disaster for many Haitians. The team treated several hundred patients in just five days with the help of funds raised at the men’s culinary cook-off.

We have also sponsored evangelical mission work in Mexico and Brazil for many years.

First Presbyterian also uses this fundraiser to support its local mission work which focuses on children-at-risk in our community, the homeless and the hungry, environmental care, disaster relief and the prison community.

In August, with lay minister Randy Smith at the helm, First Presbyterian Church sponsored 16 volunteers from Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi on a trip to Winnfield Correctional Prison, where they played softball with the inmates, preached, witnessed and gave out Bibles.

Please join us Friday night to meet our ministers, the Rev. Denny and the Rev. Noelle Read and their four children (including the triplets!), our mission unit members and members of our congregation.

We have seating for everyone to stay and enjoy fellowship, or you can bring a plate home.

Children are welcome. We have a children’s table, games and activities, as well as a petting zoo of donkeys! Our host, Mr. Lee Jones, loves to share the legend of the donkey’s cross with the little children.

The story is that the Lord caused the shadow of the cross to fall across the back of the little donkey that carried Jesus to the hill of Calvary on Palm Sunday as a reward for the donkey’s humble service. And now, donkeys have a cross on their backs forevermore as a sign of the love of God. It is our hope to share that message, as well as some good food, with the Natchez community.

Tickets are $12 per person at the door from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the home of Lee & Sherry Jones, 91 Providence Road.

For more information or if you would like to be a cook, contact Sherry Jones, 601-442-0391 or Chesney Doyle, 404-317-5524.

 

Hyde Carby is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Natchez.