Dear Family,
There are moments in every family’s history when we are called to stand together, not just in words, but in action.
For 155 years, Middle Creek Zion Baptist Church has stood as a testimony of faith, sacrifice, and obedience. In 1870, Lloyd Woods and Lucy Woods (Phillips) planted something that was never meant to last for only one generation. They built a place where their children, and their children’s children, could come to worship, to remember who they are, and to stay connected to one another through God.
For over a century and a half, that promise has held.
Every first Sunday in June, we have returned home.
Not just to a building, but to our roots.
Not just to a tradition, but to a calling.
Not just to a reunion, but to a family covenant.
Today, we face a moment that will determine whether this legacy continues as it always has.
Our church is in urgent need of repairs and renovation totaling approximately $40,000. Without this work, our family church home is not safe to use, and for the first time in living memory, we will not be able to hold Homecoming at Middle Creek Zion Baptist Church in Rose Elms, OH.
We cannot let the place our ancestors built fall because we were unwilling to stand up when it was our turn.
Those who came before us gave what they had.
Some gave money.
Some gave labor.
Some gave prayer.
Some gave their whole lives to keep this church standing.
Now the responsibility belongs to us.
We are asking family members who are able to step forward in a special way and consider giving $1,000 or more toward the restoration of the church. These leadership gifts will allow the work to begin quickly so that our children and grandchildren will always have a place to come home to.
This is not just about wood, bricks, or a roof.
This is about honoring Lloyd and Lucy.
This is about honoring the generations who kept the doors open.
This is about making sure that 100 years from now, our family will still gather on the first Sunday in June and say,
“We are still here.”
If you feel led to give, please do so prayerfully and generously. We’ve set up a fundraising portal where every penny donated will go toward our Church renovation. You can find it and donate here:
Middle Creek Homecoming Legacy 2026
Let us come together as one family, as we always have.
May God bless our family,
May God bless Middle Creek Zion Baptist Church,
And may the legacy continue.
With faith,
The Middle Creek Homecoming Legacy Committee
Middle Creek Zion Baptist Church
Founded 1870
156 Years of Faith • Family • Homecoming
