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Published Monday, November 16, 2009 in Close-Up

Photo by Jeff Bishop

Thanksgiving came a little early for the residents of the Newnan Housing Authority apartments at Binion Court as they participated in God of Another Chance Ministries’ community outreach program. From left are Minister Chastity Curry, Newnan Housing Authority board member Eleanor Goode and Reginald Pless.

Some housing authority residents getting meals from local ministry

By Jeff Bishop

The Times-Herald

Thanksgiving dinner came a little early for some residents of the Newnan Housing Authority apartments, thanks to a new ministry.

God of Another Chance Ministries representatives said that the dinners, which will become a weekly affair at the Binion Court community center, are just an extension of the work they're doing with the residents.

"We've been in ministry here for the last six weeks. I'm not coming here looking for a blessing. We are the blessing," said Minister Chastity Curry.

Several of the residents agreed as they dug into generous servings of fried turkey, honey-baked ham, baked chicken, vegetable casserole, and homemade peach cobbler at the Thursday dinner.

"This is a great thing for the neighborhood," said Cecelia Whatley. "It's convenient for us. It's a nice way to serve the citizens. And we really love her. I think it's a blessing, I really do."

Minister Curry said she began the ministry after she grew tired of "seeing more people on the way to church than I would actually see at the church."

Her idea was to "bring the church to the neighborhood," rather than trying to bring the neighborhood to the church, she said.

Many people are elderly or handicapped or without transportation and they just don't have the means to get to church, she said.

"So we have introduced this ministry here to show them the love of God," said Curry.

The Thanksgiving dinner was open to everyone, and she said it was a big success.

"You can see all the people we have here, and then we also had 25 carry-out," she said.

The ministry has begun a Bible study every Thursday night from 6-7 p.m. called "The Hour of Power," and church services are held from 9-11 a.m. every second and fourth Sunday.

"Every time we are seeing somebody new," she said. "We are open to all walks of life."

Eleanor Goode, who serves on the board of the Newnan Housing Authority, was busy Thursday night scooping out helpings of banana pudding and casserole. Curry said Goode was instrumental in securing the location for the dinner and the ministry.

"It's a good thing for the people who live in the neighborhood," said Goode. "We've been needing something like this for a long time."

Reginald Pless, who also helped with the dinner, said, "it's wonderful."

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