Food and fellowship expand at Harrisburg First Baptist Church

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">HARRISBURG &#8211; A program that seeks to expand Christian fellowship at Harrisburg's First Baptist Church is expanding, organizers say.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The program, called "His Table," is a community dinner from 5 to 6 p.m. each Thursday at the church, 204 N. Main St. The dinner is free and available to all who wish to attend.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The program began as an offshoot of the church's Thanksgiving community dinner. Each year, the church prepares food for hundreds both at the church and for delivery. Joe Thompson, FBC youth pastor who, with his wife Stacey, helps coordinate the Thanksgiving feed, said church members wished to continue fostering a similar spirit of community.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"We didn't want it to be just once a year," Joe Thompson said. "We wanted to share the church with the community."

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When His Table began, Thompson said he didn't know if it would catch on with the community.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"We thought, well, let's give it a try, and it may be just a few of us sitting here enjoying each other's company," he said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The first eight weeks, though, about 50 people came to eat and visit &#8211; and the program continues to grow.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"We're in the second period for the program, and we're averaging about 95 people," Thompson said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Other churches have participated in the program as well, he said. He said usually another church will participate by providing volunteers to serve and food to be served. Dorrisville Baptist Church recently participated in that way, he said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">He also said some area businesses also have felt the spirit of giving back to the community.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Bar-B Q Barn and El Ranchito, two Harrisburg restaurants, along with Harrisburg caterer Angie Behme also have provided food and personnel to help serve it.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Thompson said he encouraged other churches and businesses to become involved with the program.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"We're really excited it's been a success. It's getting bigger, and God willing, eventually it will be big enough that we'll move it to a separate location," he said.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">He also praised the work of teens who help with the program.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">"Our kids really do a good job of helping out," he said. "We'd have a hard time doing it without them."

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">For more information, contact First Baptist Church at (618) 252-7491.