Cookie evangelism:
Asbury delivers the goods to nearby businesses

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Nobody can say that Asbury UMC comes up with half-baked ideas. The east Knox County congregation recently created a “cookie ministry” for a community that could have been hard to reach.

But reach them Asbury did – and when Sept. 11 happened and the community needed a church to pray in, they knew where to go.

Located near an industrial park in east Knox County, Asbury was challenged to connect with neighbors who were commuters rather than residents.

The industrial park contains about 45-50 businesses with as few as two or as many as 750 workers. “Our first idea was to cook them a dinner,” said the Rev. David Green, Asbury pastor. “We realized that might be nonproductive.”

Then the church missions coordinator suggested a cookie ministry, and parishioners got out their rolling pins.

Over 10 weeks last spring, Asbury baked 20,000 cookies and delivered them to the businesses. They were organized, too: Church members used maps to identify companies, calling ahead for employee counts and the best time to come. They left flyers with Asbury’s worship times and the message, “We’re here in the community. If you ever need us, we hope you’ll call us.”

Word of Asbury’s ministry spread. Many workers said, “We were expecting you!” when church members called to schedule a delivery. “It was like, shocking to them that we would take the time to do this,” Green said.

Knoxville District Superintendent Jim Whedbee, who read the thank-you notes sent to Asbury by company employees, said he was impressed by what they had to say. “They were more than just thank-you notes for cookies,” said Rev. Whedbee.

“They thanked Asbury for its presence in the community and for caring.”

With about 95 in average worship attendance, Asbury didn’t expect its unique ministry to bring in throngs of prospective members. But they were pleased when about 10 vanloads of company employees came in to pray following the September terrorist attacks.

Since then, the Knoxville District church has begun to host a Wednesday noon Bible study for nearby Sea-Ray Boat workers. “They bring sack lunches. We provide coffee,” Green said.

The outreach effort has also inspired door-to-door visitation to a few neighboring residential communities. The approach is the same. Asbury members deliver a batch of their famous cookies and a no-pressure message: “We’re here and we care.”

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