Cocoa Beach. South Padre. Panama City. Cancun. Acapulco. Covington? One of these Spring Break locations is not like the other ones. But for a group of freshman college students from Martin Luther College in Minnesota, they wouldn’t want to be anywhere other than Covington. From March 5 to 14 these young ladies will be joining members of Abiding Grace spreading a message that is not like the other ones, the message of Christ crucified and risen. The message of Easter. A message which makes less sense than Spring Break in Covington. The message of salvation for the whole world.

The young ladies, Amanda, Rachel, Alyssa and Charissa, are coming from Minnesota and are training to become full-time teachers in the Lutheran church. They are excited to come to Georgia to speak with you — whether you have heard the message of Easter before or not. Take the opportunity to show them some southern hospitality when they knock on your door.

Along with a general invitation to worship and Bible studies every Sunday at West Newton Elementary School on Brown Bridge Road (their temporary worship facility), the volunteers will be encouraging the community to join the members of Abiding Grace for some special Easter celebrations. The first is Easter 4 Kids, March 27, a special program for kids to share with them the message of Easter joy through stories, crafts, and songs. They will also invite you to join Abiding Grace in their special Easter celebration, beginning with worship at 10:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday, followed by some good food, fellowship, crafts for the kids, and of course, the Easter Egg hunt.

The pastor of Abiding Grace, Jonathan Scharf, said, "We’re pretty keyed up about our Easter celebration because it is the highpoint of the church’s life. Jesus didn’t stay dead. He rose, guaranteeing that our lives don’t end with our death here. We’ve got all the hope in the world (and then some)."

To find out more about Abiding Grace or this program, contact Pastor Jon Scharf at (770)385-7691. To see our building project in action, drive on Ga. Highway 212 between Brown Bridge and Ga. Highwy 81.