Greensburg — Have you ever talked with a missionary who serves his ministry in India as well as streets of the city in which he lives in America?

That opportunity will be offered by First Baptist Church of Greensburg when Pastor Jeff McFarland, missionary within his own TREC, International speaks at two worship services at First Baptist Church, 209 West Washington Street, Greensburg this Sunday, Feb. 24.

Pastor McFarland will speak at the 8:30 a.m. contemporary service and the 11 a.m. tradition service, according to First Baptist Senior Pastor Cliff Bunch. Pastor McFarland will bring a simple message on missions.

According to a news release from Jeff’s Alabama headquarters, TREC, International makes numerous medial trek journeys into the countries of India and Nepal and the Himalayan mountains. They also have built and support a children’s orphanage where they have constructed a school on-site through the work of its missionary teams in Siliguri, India, where they also provide the ministry needs of a leper colony.

In addition, Pastor McFarland moved his family residency from a neighborhood in growing East Montgomery, Ala. into the shrinking west side of Montgomery in an effort to live and work among the less fortunate neighbors for whom he was planning to expand his church by planting a new church known as “Mission 11:44.”

“We just celebrated our third anniversary of serving the needs of homeless and street folk in the immediate area of Rosa Parks and Stone Streets, where we hold a Bible study and serve food weekly,” the southern pastor said. “We have seen many success stories of those who attend our sessions around a fiery barrel in a side yard located in a neighborhood known for addictions to alcohol, gambling, prostitution, drugs and homelessness,” he added.

It was reported that 3,950 meals have been served in the past three years at the site that at the site that is commonly known as where the homeless and street neighbors get the “bird with the word” at high noon each Tuesday.

Members of the Believer’s Sunday School class at First Baptist have given prayer and financial support to the missionary’s ministry and arranged for the special services.

Pastor McFarland was ordained as a minister in 1994 serving as a worship leader for the Ra Thorington Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala. for 10 years before moving his wife and two children, Kelsey and Jake, to India where his missionary ministry began.

A native of Birmingham, Ala., the pastor created TREC, International in 2004, serving ministry treks to India. He created URBAN TREC in 2009, launching his missionary work in West Montgomery, Ala. He opened Mission 11:44 Church in August 2011.

TREC is descriptive of its mission to Teach, Reach, Equip and give Comfort.

Pastor McFarland is actively involved in ministry with former Decatur County residents Bob and Melissa Bostic.



— Daily News