Chili Crossroads Bible Church to have benefit auction
Russell Maroni brings out another pizza for the community to enjoy. Fresh pizza baked in the church’s new high-capacity pizza oven will be served at the benefit auction.
CHILI – Chili Crossroads Bible Church is having a benefit auction on Friday, Oct. 18 for youth and community addiction outreach programs the church sponsors each Wednesday and Friday evening. All-you-can-eat pizza will be served from 4 to 9 p.m. and a live and silent auction hosted by Kaufman Realty and Auctions will be from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be fun fall activities for kids of all ages including volleyball and cornhole tournaments, a corn pit, pumpkin painting, and hayrides.
Some of the auction items include two new electric bicycles, new chainsaw, new self-propelled mower, fire pits, Amish furniture, and many other items.
“It was originally going to be just a fall pizza blast,” said Pastor Neal Dearyan. “We thought if we’re going to have so many people here, let’s do something beyond just the pizza. This event was Kaufman’s great idea and I just tried to execute it. They are a father and son team donating time for the live and silent auction. They do a really nice job.”
The auction itself will be held under a big tent at the church and there will be lights outside in case the volleyball and cornhole tournaments run late. Kids can jump around in the big bounce house and play in five pounds of corn in the corn pit.
“A bunch of people in the community have donated items for the auction,” said Dearyan. “People in the community have been very generous and people can still bring stuff in. Just bring it in a couple of days before the auction. It’s really awesome to see people’s creativity with their donations, so we’re really excited about it.”
The money raised during this event will go toward RU Recovery, a faith-based community addiction outreach program at the church.
“We want to keep going strong with it and keep fueling a great thing,” said Dearyan. “It is the highlight of my week to go to RU because the hope comes back into their eyes. It’s so cool to see them be transformed into the image of Christ. It is awesome. We are loving this.”
At RU Recovery, each person receives free food and the program is free. Transportation is also offered free of charge to anyone who wants to come. Dearyan and other volunteers from the church also teach the Bible and help participants memorize Bible verses.
“Our church people are amazing,” said Dearyan. “They’re the secret sauce that’s making this thing work. God is using them in great ways.”
People who are currently with the RU program will be volunteering their time during the benefit auction serving in multiple ways. Anyone is welcome to come and volunteer and the event is open to the public. The goal is to raise more money than the pizza blast raised last spring.
The pizza blast is held each spring. Tickets are available for purchase for a night of all-you-can-eat pizza. At the benefit auction, pizza will be available for a donation.
“We hope to make this an annual event,” said Dearyan. “If this is successful, we might try to do something similar in the spring.”
For more information, contact the church at 740-545-9707. See more auction items at www.chilibiblechurch.org/auction. Chili Crossroads Bible Church is located at 29445 CR 10, Fresno.
Category: Faith
