“We want to be a part of every slice of life, where people say ‘Why does Brighton Chapel care about us this way?’” says Pastor Rustin Krapfl of Brighton Chapel Brethren Church in Howe, Ind.
“We try to be very missional in the way we approach the community,” Krapfl explains. To that end, Brighton Chapel participates in a variety of events in their northeastern Indiana community.
For example, the local high school organizes a 5K race every year. Brighton Chapel is there helping. “It’s an opportunity for us just to help the community and let them know that we’re here,” Krapfl says.
The church also participates in the community’s annual Trunk or Treat event during the Halloween season. While local residents are handing out treats to costumed children from their vehicle trunks, congregation members are distributing hot dogs, water bottles, and candy. They also host games.
“[We want to] be a presence when we know families are going to be out, and they’re going to say ‘Hey, here’s this church again; why are they here?’”
Last year, the church held their Easter service at the LaGrange County fairgrounds. Two other local congregations came together to make the event happen.
“We did a breakfast and a worship service together,” Krapfl reports. “We had around 500 people show up from the community and from our church and the two other churches.”
The event was so successful that the three churches plan to hold their Easter services at the fairgrounds again this year.
“I know it’s a challenge, but we want to take the risk of stepping out of our comfort zone and going to a place that brings the community together,” Krapfl explains. “We’re hoping to see God do great things with that this Easter.” – by Andrea Skowronski