Community Shepherds aim to help Dalton-Gurley area

DALTON - A new non-profit group has formed to help the Dalton and Gurley communities, and the surrounding area, in whatever way they need help.

The Dalton Community Shepherds gather in Dalton's former Presbyterian Church, at 404 Francis St., in Dalton, and while they are personally motivated by their Christian faith, are a non-denominational entity.

"We're here to do things like a church does, but we are not a church," Jim Larson, group president, said, adding, "Whatever the community has a need for, we want to help with."

Already, the group has used its building as a community space to host bible studies, youth activities and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church's visiting Table of Grace mobile pantry.

While all people are welcomed to the group, an emphasis for the Community Shepherds is centering their efforts around Christ and His message.

"A lot of people today are turned off by church, which is not necessarily good," Rev. Bud Gillespie, group member, said. "We want to be able to open the doors and go out into the community and take that message out."

Among its efforts, the Community Shepherds also want to host soup suppers and begin mentoring programs for area youth.

"We're something new in this community and we don't know what needs we're going to be able to fill," Gillespie said. "It's reaching out to people in the community."

Rol Rushman, a newer member to the group, has started a men's group that meets twice monthly called Stepping Up, for men ages "12 and older."

"It's all about community and helping," Rushman said. "Probably more than any group we would like to target, it would be the youth. They're the future. It's the group that's maybe the most vulnerable when they're going through the crossroads of life."

Member Barb Reimers believes in the group's mission, of "serving and nurturing the community while reflecting the love of Christ through out actions."

"Whenever there is one church maybe sponsoring something, people from other churches feel like they can't go," Reimers said. "We want to include anyone and everyone without any barriers."

Community Shepherds has an open membership, Rushman said.

"If we had members there would be 30 or 40 of us, because they all come to our meetings, and so what we have are committees," he said. "We ask the people at the meetings, what do you think? What would you like to do?"

The nonprofit is funded by donations, and its building was gifted by United Church of the Plains.

"Part of our whole effort is strictly to keep the lights on in a building and generate enough income to keep the lights on, so there's a place for the community," Rushman said.

It is great, Larson said, to have a group started and already have community efforts in place.

"It's an idea a lot of us kicked around over a year ago, and it's just something that's slowly come to pass," he said. "This is a wonderful way to show support to the community."

He added, "All of the churches can come together to provide some kind of benefit for some people."

For more information, Community Shepherds can be reached via Barb Reimers at (308) 249-2822, or via their Facebook page, Community Shepherds of Dalton/Gurley.