These are momentous times for Brookhaven’s Central BaptistChurch, and members there are making sure they keep focused.

With work on a new campus scheduled to begin this spring, Centraldoesn’t want to fall into a feeling of complacency andaccomplishment. Therfore, the church is rededicating itself with 40Days of Community, an outreach program designed to strengthen workin the five church missions.

“We didn’t want to get so locked in on brick and mortar that welose the focus on relationships,” said Pastor Ryan Thurman. “Ithelps balance the equation of building a facility to help usminister and share the love of Christ, as well as allowing us topursue what we need to be pursuing.”

During the six-week program, the church will re-emphasize work infellowship, worship, ministry, evangelism and discipleship. Besidesreinforcing study of Scripture, worship and group work within thechurch, a major ingredient to 40 Days of Community is localmissions projects.

“We’re better together. The focus is building the community withinthe church and reaching out to the community in which the church isplaced,” Thurman said.

The church will kick off the program Sunday with a month-longmission at Haven Hall Nursing Home, Central’s annual Februaryproject. It will hold service at the nursing home on Sundayafternoons and host several activities through its children’s andyouth ministries, staff and Women’s Missionary Union.

As the 40 days continue, Central Baptist Church will also partnerwith Brookhaven Outreach Ministries to build its food pantry, cleanand revitalize City Park and Bicentennial Park and sponsor a localcouple expecting their first child. Plans will be developed andprayed over in church and executed in the community.

With the 2010 Winter Olympics coming to Vancouver, Canada in threeweeks, Central has themed the program accordingly, using theOlympic five-ring symbol to represent the missions of the church.Church groups will compete for gold, silver and bronze awards forwork in the community.

Anyone is invited to join Central Baptist Church to work on the 40Days of Community project. More information may be obtained bycalling the church office at 601-833-2827.

Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif.,developed the 40 Days series. He is the author of “The PurposeDriven Life,” a popular Christian guidebook.