Stanford—Gary King, director of missions at Lincoln County Baptist Association, leads an association that includes 27 churches and one mission church. They operate a homeless shelter, known as the “Unto Me Shelter,” in Stanford, and a community center, and seek to aid the homeless and drug-addicted people whom they encounter to not only find employment and better their lives, but also come to faith in Christ.

“We want to be available, as an association, to do God’s work, to reach people for Christ, to help people with addiction,” said King.

They have upgraded the Lincoln County Community Center, formerly named the Kings Mountain Community Center, which is used as part of their ministry.

“It is exciting to see churches partner together through the Lincoln County Community Center, and I can’t wait to hear how God blesses their efforts,” said Eric Allen, leader of the Missions Mobilization team at the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

In total, they’ve had 38 homeless come through, 10 of whom have expressed a profession of faith in Christ and have been baptized at local churches.

“Many of the homeless we have served have found employment,” added King.

The Lincoln County Baptist Association isn’t able to operate alone. It takes many parties working together to make what they do happen. And King recognizes that.

“The WMU has been very helpful through the years. We thank them for their service,” King said.

“Gary (King) is a creative leader and has challenged the association to take on several different kinds of ministry as a platform for sharing the gospel,” Allen said. “Gary is modeling what a missionary does by identifying needs, casting vision and equipping the association to meet those needs in the name of Christ.” (WR)