Mack and Bebe Herrington of Shiloh Baptist Church have helped people and shared the gospel on short-term mission trips to Central America and Alaska for decades.
They’re the co-founders of Across the Map Missions and Ministry and long-time members of the FBA, but God recently led them to invest more of their time in serving right locally.
“We decided we wanted to do something local. The trips were getting tough,” said Mack.
The clothing ministry opened in Ellaville, GA back in October. Since then, 257 people have shopped the collections of clothes, shoes, and small household items.
There’s no cost to any of the items and no limit to how frequently somebody can patronize the ministry either. The store is open every Wednesday and on the last Saturday of the month from 10 am to 2 pm.
There’s also a prayer room and always volunteers available to talk to those who come in.
In the back, the building doubles as the ministry’s headquarters for ongoing work around the world.
“No donations go to waste,” explained Mack. He says that a group of women are using clothes that are too frayed for the store to braid jump ropes. The toys will go into Operation Christmas shoeboxes later in the year.
They also collect old eyeglasses to send overseas.
Across the Map also plans at least two trips to Kentucky each year, still visits Alaska, and sends supplies to a missionary in the Philippines.
Shiloh Baptist Church, Ellaville Baptist Church, and Rusty Taylor are current main supporters of the clothing ministry, but Mack says there is room for more to get involved.
“Volunteers are always helpful,” he said. Next month the ministry will switch out the winter coats and long-sleeves with summer clothes that are currently stored in the back.
He added, “We can always use donations and financial support.”
Across the Map is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization. They can be contacted through Facebook or atmserves@gmail.com.
This article was featured in the March/April/May edition of the Word & Way.
Friendship Baptist Association News 
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