by Jay Parsons

Not long ago, Pastor Jack Graham pulled Minister of Missions and Evangelism Joe Perry aside with a special instruction: “I want our church to serve the Plano area in a personal way this fall.”

And with that, Serve the City was born. The multi-event outreach program launches Oct. 23–24, aiming to tie together every division and every Bible Fellowship in the church. All have a role.

“Pastor wants to see the church being the church, serving the needs of the people to get the right to share the Gospel,” Perry said. “And he wants it to be personal.”

While the initiative is new, the heart behind the program isn't. Various divisions of Prestonwood have been serving the local area (and the world) for years. But Serve the City is different in that it's a churchwide service project to our neighbors in the immediate area.

Serve the City actually kicked off this summer, when church members donated nearly 1,200 bags full of school supplies for underprivileged kids. But the heart of the program starts Friday, Oct. 23, with a Career Transitions Workshop led by the Prestonwood Foundation. The program will include breakout sessions on crafting resumes, interviewing, networking and other job-hunting skills. This will be a timely initiative, as the Dallas/Plano side of the Metroplex had an 8.2 percent unemployment rate as of August.

On Oct. 24, Serve the City kicks into full throttle with two major outreach events. Prestonwood is partnering with Kwik Kar on Midway Road across from that campus to offer oil changes and car washes led by the deacons for single moms. The youth ministry will help out by vacuuming cars. Meanwhile, Women’s Ministry leaders will sit down with single moms one-on-one to talk, pray, encourage, and tell them about Bible studies at the church. Childcare will be available as well.

That same day, adult Bible Fellowships will go to the homes of widows to help with minor house repairs and upkeep.

Even prior to that big weekend, church members are needed to sign up single moms and widows. Perry said the church particularly wants to serve church members in need and people in the area who do not have a church home. If you know of someone in need, contact Michael Guyer at .

The final element of Serve the City is the popular annual Fall Festival on Oct. 31. The church is asking adult Bible Fellowship members to sign up to staff booths at the huge carnival and to invite friends without a church home to bring their kids.

Perry is hoping Serve the City not only reaches our community, but also inspires church members to think bigger. By serving a few hours, Perry hopes laypeople “discover their mission,” identifying ways to get more involved in service.

“Ministry after ministry has sprung up out of this church because the church encouraged people to serve in the community or around the world,” Perry said, listing as examples e3 Partners Ministry, ServingHIM, H.I.S. BridgeBuilders, Amazon Outreach, Christian Hands in Action and Victim Relief.

“Pure religion is religion that ministers to widows or orphans,” Perry said, quoting James 1:17. “There aren’t a lot of orphans in America, but 50 percent of boys go to bed without a father figure. I’m hoping people will see a way to get involved with something that’s a transcendent cause.”

For more information or to nominate widows and single moms for Serve the City, contact Michael Guyer at or 972-820-5324.

Learn how to discover your mission, here.