Indianapolis, Indiana … Surrounding the heart of Indianapolis is a group of counties experiencing major expansion and prosperity in almost every direction. The recent announcement of the largest economic development program in the state’s history, in Boone County, Indiana is projected to create a major technology corridor between Indiana University on the south, and Purdue University on the north. The county is located on the northwest corner of the “donut ring” around Indianapolis (Marion County), and straddles Interstate 65 that runs between Indianapolis and Chicago. It is an example of the growth in and around the “crossroads of America”.
However, some areas are not enjoying the success visible in others. One part of the metropolitan area where residents are in a major struggle with inflation, cost of living, and a lack of employment opportunities and public services is south of Lebanon, just inside the beltway that rings the city.
The meeting place of the Eagle Creek Church of Christ is situated near the heart of this struggle. Rather than seeing the growth blight as a reason to move the congregation farther out toward the perimeter, the Eagle Creek eldership has seen it as a major opportunity to put servanthood and Matthew 25 into practice. Drawing from an opportunity afforded the church through Dennis Ziegler, a church elder, and his employer, the Walmart Corporation, a program of community assistance through food, clothing, school supplies, and other necessity items has been put in place to reach people needing assistance throughout this city of one million, and surrounding communities.
During the COVID outbreak, the Eagle Creek church sourced over 2 million face masks for Malawi. These were sent on Project shipments and donated to hospitals in Malawi. That support has continued and increased in recent months. The Malawi Project is pleased with the support coming from the Eagle Creek community and its benefactor, the Walmart Corporation.
Picture: Members of the Eagle Creek church load supplies to go to the Lebanon warehouse and on to Malawi through the Malawi Project.