Ministerial group gives back

SANDUSKY — A local ministerial group gave back to area nonprofits in 2022. The Sandusky Area Ministerial Association donated $7,000 to seven different organizations this year. The association is a collection of churches, ministers and nonprofits that gather monthly for the purpose of connecting with one another with similar relations to help serve our community. Each of these area organizations received a $1,000 donation from the association: • Erie County Senior Center • Nehemiah Partners of Sandusky • Serving Our Seniors • Safe Harbour Domestic Violence Shelter • Crossroads Homeless Shelter • Heartbeat of Sandusky • Ohio Veterans Home advisory committee In addition to their monthly meetings, for the past two years, members have gathered for community services the week before Easter, according to Pastor Tom Groot. During that time, they devote offerings collected at the gathering and put the funds toward a give-back initiative for community nonprofits. This event, at Sandusky High School's Strobel Field, is known as a special community service. Churches band together to worship as a community, and proceeds go to organizations in need. "This is really an unprecedented event where churches sacrifice their personal agendas on a Sunday morning to worship together as a community," Groot said. Twelve different groups participated: Faith Church, New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, Sandusky Church of God, Eagles Nest Church, Salvation Army, New Beginnings Ministries, Compass Chruch of God, Father's Heart Church, Sandusky Life Church, Providence Missionary Baptist, Faith Christian Ministries and Spirit and Truth Ministries.