The church recently installed a new digital sign and use it to promote church activities and to promote the various organizations that meet there.
Bolivar First Christian Church was nominated for recognition from the Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce as the 2021 Community Partner/Business of the Year. Members of the chamber, and the community, could submit nominations to the chamber, who annually recognizes outstanding businesses and community partners in the Bolivar area. Bolivar First Christian Church has been a long-time member of the chamber and supports and participates in many community and chamber activities.
Since 2017, the chamber has sponsored a Christmas Open House Showcase for independent consultants to help them with Christmas sales. The event has been hosted at the Bolivar Christian Church. “Without hesitation, Pastor Bill and the church welcomed us and have consistently been a more than gracious host,” says open house chairman Bobbie McKnight. “Everyone at the church makes sure we have all the tables, chairs, sound system – everything. I love how they extend themselves to help the community.”
When the COVID pandemic started, the chamber was unable to utilize the venue normally used for the annual luncheon. Again, Bolivar First Christian Church offered their fellowship hall, as few places in the community were open and large enough to safely accommodate the event. “Not only did the church offer us the use of the fellowship hall, but they also set up tables and chairs, allowed us to use their audio system and helped us decorate and take down,” says chamber manager Judy Ross. “We could not have had our annual event had it not been for the church.”
Representatives from the church regularly attend the chamber’s monthly networking meetings, after-hour socials and participate in the chamber’s events such as the networking golf tournament, Taste of Bolivar, Bolivar Day at the Springfield Cardinals, New Teacher Welcome Lunch and Christmas activities such as the annual parade and Light the Park Christmas light show. “Our chamber and definitely our community is better with the presence, love and support given by Bolivar First Christian Church,” says Ross. “The church and Pastor Bill are daily examples of Christ’s love extended to others, way beyond their church building walls. We are grateful and thankful for them.”
Thank you to pastor Bill Nichols for this story and photo.
The congregation partners with all of these organizations who utilize the church facility regularly:
Cub Scout Pack 128 - (Pastor Bill is the church representative to the pack) Weekly
Ozark Technical College - Free Adult Education Classes 2 days a week
Sling n Stones All Addicts Anonymous meeting - Weekly
Sling n Stones Ministries - Sat. night meal & Church Services (Pastor Bill is VP of the board) - Weekly
Open Hands (Bolivar Area Soup Kitchen) Free meal to community - Weekly
Greener Pastures for Polk County - meeting the needs of the homeless/food insecure population
Community Connections - A coalition of volunteers, churches, businesses, agencies, educators, and health care providers in the community - Meets monthly at our church - (Pastor Bill is VP of the Board)
Lifeline Screenings - A health organization that does individual health screenings for members of the community at our church about twice a year
Exceptional Pupil Coop - CPI Training - twice a year
MU Extension Center - Workshops for members of the community - 1 - 2 times a year
Chamber of Commerce annual Christmas Open House Showcase