SOUTHPORT, NC, Nov. 6, 2024 — After launching a four-month “The Church Has Left the Building” outreach campaign in July, Southport Presbyterian Church (SPC) celebrated results at its Sunday Worship service Nov. 3, announcing raising of nearly $10,000 from community concerts and outreach projects that supported Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity, Brunswick County Streetreach, the Food Pantry and mission projects in Zambia.
The multi-faceted campaign, involving countless hands-on volunteer hours by SPC members., culminating with a sold out “Grand Night for Singing” concert Nov. 2 with the nationally known 4K Quartet featuring songs from Broadway, Jazz, and Opera to benefit Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity. “We featured songs with a ‘home theme,’” said Bolivia resident John Dooley, the quartet’s founder who is with the Dooley Group at Discover NC Homes. “We wanted to share our vision of finding new solutions that would make housing accessible and affordable for all and hold the concert at SPC whose tagline is, ‘All Are Welcome Here.’” Dooley, his wife Shannon and daughter Renee are regular attendees of SPC, and Shannon is a member of the quartet. The concert alone raised more than $5,000 for Brunswick Habitat for Humanity.
“The performance was world class, but the love in the room was even better,” said Jason Gaver, Executive Director for Brunswick Habitat. “We cannot continue achieving our mission without support from our community partners. I am constantly humbled by our team and the community that supports our efforts.”
“Our ‘Church Has Left the Building’ campaign refers to the idea that the church is made up of people, not a building, and that its mission continues even if its doors are closed,” said Linda Becken, SPC member and coordinator of the campaign. “The phrase suggests the idea that the church is a community of people who follow Jesus, not a physical building. The concept supports the fact that Southport Presbyterian is a ‘Matthew 25’ congregation, based on the Bible passage Matthew 25:31–46, which calls for people to serve the poor, oppressed, imprisoned, and hungry. The initiative’s goals are to engage with the community, support racial justice, and Fight poverty,” she said.
