Pastors join to discuss group ministry in the county

The Rev. Eric Jaffe of Orange Park wants Clay County churches to join forces to battle social issues and evangelize the county.

"Around the country and around the world, people
are doing this, and when they do, amazing stories abound," Jaffe told
35 pastors at a meeting he called in hopes of starting some teamwork.

"I don’t think one church can do it alone."

Jaffe, pastor at Celebration Church of Orange Park
for five years, said he’s been studying the concept and trying to serve
as a catalyst for synergistic relationships in Clay County.

Cindy Jones of Faith Community Church of God prays during a meeting of Clay County pastors at Club Continental. To her right is the Rev. Michael Williams of Life Changers Christian Fellowship. MARY MARAGHY/staff

Guest speaker Assistant State Attorney Sam Garrison
said a private, nonprofit rape crisis center preparing to open next
month in Clay County desperately needs money, prayers, volunteers and
on-call pastors to counsel victims.

He and Jaffe serve on the board of directors.

"We need you in ways we don’t even know yet," Garrison said.

Jaffe proposed regular meetings of pastors so they
could get to know one another better, learn about churches’ strengths
and offerings, and hear from guest speakers like Garrison, who can
inform them of situations where churches can help.

The Rev. Jeff Henderson of OakLeaf Christian
Fellowship said he’s inspired by Jaffe’s vision, which he says throws
the traditional competitive dynamics of ministry on its head.

"Gas stations on opposite corners have gotten along
better than churches. We all get our little territories and we fight,"
Henderson said.

"This is phenomenal. We can do more together than we can on our own."

Celebration Church is inviting other churches to
participate in its second annual Family Fun Fest from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct.
31 at Town Hall Park.

Last year, more than 3,000 people attended the event billed as an alternative to Halloween trick-or-treating.

Cindy Jones of Faith Community Church of God in Orange Park said Jaffe’s got the right idea.

"We’ve got to come together," she said. "We’ll all be together in heaven anyway."

mary.maraghy@jacksonville.com, 278-9487, ext. 6374

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