How First, Palmer Loves Their Neighbors

By EMILY SIMPSON
Baptist Progress Editor

​Many recall the year 2020 as being one for the history books. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world came to a halt in such a way that the current generation had not seen. While that year is mainly seen as one of fear, uncertainty and unrest, for others it was a catalyst for new creative ideas.
 
Just a month before COVID-19 crossed the globe, First, Palmer had an idea for an outreach event that ended up becoming a yearly tradition they still celebrate today. Love Your Neighbor is an annual game night with the aim to reach those not comfortable with church and to build intergenerational bonds among First, Palmer members. 
 
“A lot of our focus is just getting people to come into the church and feel comfortable walking through those doors in a no pressure type situation,” Children’s Director Darla Gardner explains, “when it’s not something that’s regularly scheduled people may be more likely to just randomly show up, because it’s not a commitment that they have to be there every time”.
 
Members are encouraged to use the event as an opportunity to invite friends and neighbors to the church. They are asked to bring a game and various foods are provided like chili, salad, and soup. After half a decade of Love Your Neighbor game nights, the community response has been a regular encouragement.

At the very first LYN Event in 2020, then Pastor Paul Gauntt enjoys the free food

Game table at First, Palmer’s Love Your Neighbor Event

​“It’s definitely a favorite night… I think it gives people something to talk about who aren’t usually talkative who might struggle with small talk. If you’re just sitting there playing a game, it breaks the ice,” Mrs. Gardner notes.

It is not an unusual sight to come to Love Your Neighbor and find people of different ages playing the same game together. Mrs. Gardner has seen people who don’t usually interact with kids become more at ease when a game is involved, making new friends in the process.
 
“Going back and looking at pictures [of past events], you can see the older people and the younger people mixed together,” Mrs. Gardner fondly remembers.
 
One special memory was of the first-year current pastor Gary Southard and his wife Rhonda participated.
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“She [Rhonda] sat and played Break the Ice with toddlers probably a hundred times that night because they loved it so much” Gardner.
 
When hospitality is usually seen as an individual task you fulfill at home, First Palmer has taken a creative approach in practicing hospitality as a church. Their example shows that less formal attempts at hospitality is to have just as much of an impact in bringing people together. Let this be an encouragement for other churches to try new things and be inventive when practicing hospitality. 

Friends enjoy rounds of dominos

Intergenerational bonds are made at LYN

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