College/Career Group Takes 5th Place in Boating Competition

Saturday, July 25, 2009 | Garrick Conner

But they prove themselves as first-place leaders in creative ministry

Members of the Park Hill college and career group give it their all during the Cardboard Boat Race

HEBER SPRINGS - The college and career Sunday School classes of Park Hill spent months working together to construct just the right vessel for the annual Cardboard Boat Race held at Greers Ferry Lake. But the team's 5th place finish was not the primary reason for celebration.

"The best thing to come out of the project was fellowship," says Matt Bond, one of the participants. "We grew closer as a group."

Matt's wife, Tara Bond, adds that working on the boat allowed the group time to strengthen friendships and build new ones. "Many of us that worked on the boat now consistently spend time together as a group outside of church."

The idea for the boat race was actually the brainchild of Lyla Bailey, who works with the college and career group. She learned of the race last year and encouraged the group to enter the competition. Construction on the cardboard masterpiece began on April 1 and continued each Wednesday night for the next three-and-a-half months.

The participants really got into the spirit of the event. Donning blue team t-shirts that featured a picture of a large cross -- just like the boat -- the team members drew a great deal of attention from the thousands of spectators. Matt said that the whole event really turned into a witnessing tool.

But these would not be the only ways in which the college and career classes would tie into the purposes of the church. The night before the race at the cabin in Fairfield Bay, Park Hill member Keith West led the team in a teaching time, and they sang some praise and worship numbers together.

The group acknowledges that the project was not without its challenges. None of them had ever attempted anything like it before. Early in the project, doubts and discouragement surfaced among class members. However, those involved say that they would definitely like to participate in the event again next year -- perhaps with both the old boat as well as a new one! They also hope to use the event as an opportunity to do some simple ministry touches, such as distributing bottled water to spectators, and perhaps even partnering with other churches to maximize impact.

This Park Hill group clearly proves that ministry creativity is only as limited as your imagination. The College/Career classes meet on Sunday mornings at 9:30 in the Rock House, at the corner of Pine Street and "D" Avenue in North Little Rock.

For more information about this ministry, please contact Lyla Bailey at 501.753.3413, or e-mail LylaBailey@parkhillbaptist.org.