It's Happening: Simpson Creek Baptist Church Outreach Group Makes Clarksburg Mission Shine
By Julie Perine on October 03, 2019 from It’s Happening
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Simpson Creek Baptist Church is where I was baptized and where my husband and I were married. Occasionally, I get a chance to attend services there with my mom and dad, sister and her family.
This past Sunday, Pastor Mike Hopkins delivered a beautiful message about knowing Christ and as always, the music was incredible. But there was something else that caught my ear. Pastor Mike was talking about how the church supports mission work and outreach – throughout the state, nation and world. But he also said that those outreach efforts begin at home – that there are always situations and people right where we live and work that need our help. Pastor 
Mike went on to mention that a group from the church had painted the Clarksburg Mission storefronts the day before. I was intrigued, so I called the Mission’s Executive Director Lou Ortenzio to find out more.
Mike went on to mention that a group from the church had painted the Clarksburg Mission storefronts the day before. I was intrigued, so I called the Mission’s Executive Director Lou Ortenzio to find out more.
Lou said he received a call from Dave Williams, representing the church and asking what all goes on at the mission and how his outreach groups could help. Providing that the buildings had not been painted since former Executive Director Frank Jarman and a team of residents did the work 15 years ago, Ortenzio immediately thought of the exterior painting project.
“I thought it would be nice to look a little brighter and improve our image with the community and that a little facelift might help,” Lou said.
The group from SCBC did not hesitate. About 20 individuals came and power washed the front of the buildings, then returned with paint and made those buildings shine.
But that wasn’t all. The community and the relationship between the Mission residents and others shined a little brighter, too.
Earlier that morning, there was a 5K, a fundraiser for the Clarksburg Children’s House, a Montessori school located on 4th
Street, just up from the Mission. The streets along the route were closed and the Mission residents proudly stood with motivational signs, cheering and encouraging each runner. It had rained earlier in the morning but by the time the race was over – 10 a.m. or so – the sun came up the painting began. As that work took place, the volunteer painters engagedin conversation with residents. During five hours of painting, lots of connections were made, Lou said.
“Sometimes we feel pretty isolated (at the Mission),” Lou said. “We get tremendous support from the community and local churches and youth groups and financial donations are probably 70 percent of our budget. But to have this physical help here was really cool. We felt really supported and the residents took honor and a little more pride in the appearance of our place and pride in themselves.”
The colors chosen were a near perfect match to the paint selected 15 years ago by Frank and his crew. He and his wife were able to be part of this year's effort, too.
Just the ground floor – what could be reached by ladders – were painted Saturday. There is likely enough paint left to do the upper portions of the buildings by a professional with the right equipment, Ortenzio said.
SCBC Youth Pastor Ben Moses coordinated the project and Jim Altman provided supplies. Jones Run Church provided lunch and South Ridge Church served dinner.
It was just a good day all the way around.
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“Our residents and staff were encouraged by the painters. There is a basic love and concern for our fellow man and it was manifested through that whole process,” Lou said. “All it takes is all of us working together to help improve our community and we certainly need a lot in our community.”
Sunday morning, while talking about mission work, Pastor Mike said there is an old saying that goes like this: “The light that shines the furthest shines the brightest at home.”
That old saying has certainly proven itself true once again..jpg)
