By CLARKE STACKHOUSE/Staff Writer 

STANTON – Ebenezer Baptist Church found a way of cooling off and extending outreach this summer by taking kayaks down Mullberry Creek.

EBC member Greg Walls lead the ministry and said the kayak trips have been a great way to give back to the community.

“It’s been a really good thing,” Walls said. “People from the church and community have come together to make this happen and it’s a great summer activity.”

Walls said they started the kayak trips in May and the last trip was on July 31. He said this is the second year the church has done the trips. The guided trips start in Maplesville and cover approximately 3 miles on the water.

Walls said participants met at the church and took a bus to the start of the creek. He said before each outing they would have a prayer and short testimony by “whoever felt lead by the spirit to share.”

Walls said it is a great way to expand the church ministry into the community and spread the word of God.

“When you think of doing missionary work, you think it has to be out of the state or out of the country,” Walls said. “This a way we do missionary work right here.”

Walls said last year the church was able to buy 11 kayaks and expanded to 21 kayaks this year, which allowed for each trip to have 18 attendees and three guides. He said his wife Leanne has helped coordinate the trips and keep up with attendance. He said last summer they had around 200 people and had even more this year with the additional kayaks.

Walls said the church and community effort has been more than he could have hoped for. He said people have helped guide the trips and transport the kayaks.

“This would have been impossible without community support,” Walls said. “Everyone has been on board and it’s been a wonderful experience.”

Walls said they plan to start the kayak trips again next May.