There’s a Song in the Air Over Albuquerque
Photo: New Beginnings carolers bring guitars and other instruments.
By Carl Stagner
You don’t have to be in the Church of God very long to know we’re a singing church. We always have been. New Beginnings Church of God in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is just one example of that. The song in the air over Albuquerque today is simply a natural overflow of the song of salvation which God placed in the hearts of the believers at the thriving church situated at the base of the rugged Sandia Mountains. Their recent Christmas caroling outreach in one of the most socioeconomically challenged areas of the city is only one of numerous reasons more and more people are joining in the heavenly refrain.
“To be perfectly honest, the idea started way before me,” explains Michael Romero, pastor of worship and the arts at New Beginnings, where Richard Mansfield serves as senior pastor. “We’ve been doing this since back in the early 1990s. It started off when we started caroling in the neighborhood, literally door-to-door, showing people Christ’s love. Recently we’ve been going to the nursing home facilities in the south part of town.”
Photo: Residents of South Valley Care Center listen to the carolers.
Eyes light up and smiles replace lingering frowns among residents of South Valley Care Center when members of New Beginnings Church enter the room. Spirits are lifted and hearts are warmed, but feet are warmed, too. Coordinating with the local Christian television station, New Beginnings Church of God collects socks throughout the season to give to these elderly residents. Instead of assuming what they need, the church asks the nursing home what the needs actually are. Because socks wear out easily, and because the residents’ feet get cold quickly, socks are one of the greatest needs. Additionally, the church donates coin purses, which come in handy, not just for coins, but medicine and other trinkets. Aprons were also among the gifts presented to the residents this year, as several ladies from the church got together and put their quilting skills to work for the cause.
“Our church’s motivation is ‘Healing and restoring lives through the love of Jesus Christ,’” Michael explains. “We understand that we can’t just do that within the walls of our church. We give over four thousand pounds of food every year through our food pantry. We give backpacks to kids going back to school. We have a ministry that helps people move if they’re relocating. Close to a thousand people came to our Trunk or Treat this year. We have what’s called God’s Warehouse, which is a ministry to the homeless in the city. We do this because we have a burden for the hurting, and we understand that they are right here—at arm’s length there are people who need Christ.”
There’s a song in the air over Albuquerque. It’s coming from New Beginnings Church of God, and it’s changing lives with the hope of Christ at Christmas and throughout the year.
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