New Home General Baptist Church is inviting local families to attend their Sunday in the South event on Sunday.
It will take place at the church’s location at 1864 Highway AA, Poplar Bluff, and will start at 10 a.m.
“We felt there was a need for families to come together in a safe environment,” said lead pastor Justin Benefiel. “People coming will be able to be socially distant and wear masks and still gather in worship.”
Church volunteer Lana Moore will offer face painting for the younger event-goers and Tony Moore will make balloon animals for them.
Bounce houses will also be set up on the church lawn. They will include Star Walk and Caterpillar-themed houses. All the bounce houses will be supervised by church volunteers.
For the older attendees, a corn hole game will be available.
The church will provide attendees a free barbecue meal. Church volunteers will be present with their grills, making pulled pork and deep-fried French fries.
Anyone wishing to show off their outdoor cooking skills is invited to bring their grills and join in a friendly competition.
“The only prize will be bragging rights,” said Benefiel. “We just want to have a little bit of fun.”
The church’s ties to the classic cars community will be evident in a Cruise In. There will be more than 12 cars parked on the church lot.
One of them will be Brian Birdsong’s 1942 Chevy truck. The vehicle began its life as a pipe fitter’s truck in St. Louis, but came to Poplar Bluff in 1956 to be a service truck for Joe Jackson’s service station near the Butler County Courthouse.
It passed through the hands of several local car enthusiasts until Birdsong bought it in 2008. He built it into a type of custom hot rod called a rat rod. In the winter of 2020 though, a fire broke out and burned the engine bay. Birdsong rebuilt it and named it the “Roasted Rat.”
Anyone with a classic or a not-so-classic car, or a motorcycle, is invited to park them with the “Roasted Rat” and be shown off.
“There will be no judging or prizes,” said Benefiel. “Just a chance to hang out with fellow car guys.”
There will also be live music by Brad O’Dell. O’Dell is a local performer who has been featured at several church camps in Southeast Missouri.
Benefiel will lead the congregation and guests in an outdoor worship service.
“We want to build a relationship with families,” said Benefiel. “We (at New Home Baptist Church) truly feel the calling of the church is to reach out and impact families. We want to give them a chance to come together at a no-cost social gathering.”
Anyone needing more information about the event can message New Home Baptist Church on Facebook or send an email to newhomechurch@gmail.com.
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