Missionaries from Mississippi return to help Albion church with projects

Photos by Tom Rivers: A group from Mississippi was in Albion this past week working on projects at the Canalside Community Church, the former United Methodist site at the corner of Platt and East State streets. The group is shown here in the fellowship hall next to a kitchen. The volunteers put a new hood on the stove, and installed a new partition at a wall at the kitchen and put in new lighting for the dining room.

ALBION – A group of missionaries from Liberty Baptist Church in Waynesboro, Mississippi made an 1,100-mile trek to Albion this past week to work on several projects at Canalside Community Church.

Canalside is in a historic building in need of repairs. It was originally used by the United Methodist Church. North Point Chapel became owner of the site and the name was changed to Canalside Community Church on Jan. 1 to better reflect its proximity to the Erie Canal. Church leaders also wanted “community” in the church name to reflect the mission that it is open and ready to serve everyone, not matter their backgrounds, in the Albion area.

Phillip Gandy, pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Mississippi, led a group for the third straight year to the Albion church. Gandy sees progress in the building and also in the ministry. He wants to the see more people drawn to Canalside, the only church in Orleans County affiliated with the South Baptist Convention.

“We’ve tried to help get the church on better footing,” Gandy said.

The church brought a team of 17 people, from ages 15 to 79, to work on projects inside and outside of the church. They put in a new ceiling in one of the rooms, new lighting, new carpet, painted, installed a new hood on a stove in the kitchen, put in a new shower at the parsonage and did other landscaping and cleaning.

Eli McNeil, 15, sorts out microphones and other equipment for the sound system at Canalside Community Church on Saturday.

The group brought a church bus and traveled over two days to get to Albion. They stayed in two Airbnbs. They raised over $12,000 from the Liberty congregation to make the trip and pay for materials and expenses for the work.

Gandy said the church is a small town with fewer people than Albion. Liberty Baptist also took on projects last year in Knoxville, Tenn. and in the country of Chile. Gandy speaks Spanish as well as English.

“It’s just the satisfaction of helping people,” Gandy said.

Liberty has talented people for building repairs and others with a willingness to be of service, Gandy said.

Eli McNeil, 15, was back in Albion with Liberty. He was on the first trip two years ago. He said he loved being able to visit Niagara Falls with the group, and help around the church in Albion.

“I like going to the different states, and seeing all the different landscapes,” he said.

Sierra Stewart, 16, vacuums the stage area at Canalside Community Church. She has been on all three of the Liberty Baptist mission trips to Albion.

She did a lot of painting and yard work this week. She appreciated the chance to go to Niagara Falls and also try chicken wings at the famous Anchor Bar in Buffalo.

Ben Curfman, pastor of the church, appreciates the efforts from the mission groups. Another team from Georgia will be up in Albion during the Starwberry Festival on June 13-14 for outreach programs.

Curfman said Liberty Baptist has speeded up the work in the church, and made the site more accessible for ministry programs. He looks forward to making the fellowship hall available for community functions and meals for the Canalside congregation.

“They have been able to accomplish a lot of things that would have taken us years,” Curfman said.

Ben Curfman, pastor of Canalside Community Church, stands in a room by the fellowship hall that received a new floor, including joists, last year. This year Liberty Baptist put in a new ceiling and lighting.

The group from Mississippi also shares an optimistic attitude about Albion. Curfman said there is often too much pessimism in the community.

“They bring in a hopeful mindset,” she said. “We want to perpetuate that mindset.”

Liberty Baptist attended this morning’s service eat 10:30 a.m. before heading back home.

Gandy said the group may be back next year.

“We got to pray about it,” he said.