Memorial Celebration for Late Pastor Today

Family and friends will gather at West Ridge Church today for visitation and a memorial service honoring Andrew Pray, a worship pastor at the church who died last week after being struck by a bus while biking in Bartow County.

We reported yesterday that police have charged the man who was driving the charter bus that struck and killed Andrew Pray in Bartow County a day before Thanksgiving. (You’ll find that story at this link.) Family, friends and the West Ridge Church community will gather at the church today for Pray’s visitation and memorial service. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until noon, with the memorial celebration set for 1 p.m. (Get more details of Pray’s funeral arrangements and see today’s list of funeral announcements at this link.) Visitation and a memorial celebration also will be held in Rogers, Ark., later this week. Pray was an Arkansas native. West Ridge Church has established a fund to assist the Pray family with funeral costs and …

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Driver Charged in Crash that Killed Pastor

George Carroll of Acworth faces two misdemeanor charges in connection with the crash on Highway 41 in Bartow County that killed Andrew Pray, a worship pastor at West Ridge Church.

Emerson Police on Monday lodged charges against the man who was driving the charter bus that struck and killed West Ridge Church worship pastor Andrew Pray in Bartow County a day before Thanksgiving. George Carroll, 77, of Acworth, was arrested and faces two misdemeanor charges—second-degree vehicular homicide and following too closely—Police Chief Stan Bradley told Cartersville Patch. On his Facebook page, Pray, an Arkansas native, described himself as an avid cyclist, as well as “[an] aspiring cook, sports fan, cereal lover, and saved by the grace of God.” Bradley said Pray's bicycle and the charter bus—which was new and being tested by Carroll and a mechanic—were approaching Red Top Mountain Road on Highway 41 northbound when "for some …

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Community Reacts to Pastor's Passing

Many on Twitter have shown their thanks and offered prayers for Andrew Pray, the West Ridge Church worship pastor who died Wednesday after being struck while cycling in Bartow County. See their heartfelt messages here, and add your own in the comments.

Video: Workday Brings Storm Relief to Hard-Hit Areas

Volunteers left from Poole Elementary Saturday morning and traveled to several “hotspots” to remove debris and offer other aid.

A week after a tornado and accompanying storms struck Paulding County, hundreds of volunteers were helping residents who saw their homes damaged or destroyed. Poole Elementary School, which was also damaged in the severe weather of March 2 and 3, was the starting point of a community workday that saw Paulding residents and members of several area churches come together to aid those hardest hit by the storms. The workday was coordinated by West Ridge Church in Dallas. Steve Veale, lead pastor of the church’s West Paulding site, estimates that somewhere between 300 and 400 volunteers—locals as well as some who came from as far away as Atlanta—visited about 19 worksites during the workday, from the Clear Creek subdivision in Dallas to …

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Storm Cleanup To Start at Poole Today

Volunteers looking to help the community after last week’s storms will gather at the school this morning, then disperse to several “hotspots” to clean up debris.

Those looking to help with the cleanup efforts in the wake of last weekend’s tornado and storms should head to Poole Elementary School today at 8:30 a.m. That’s when volunteer groups will gather before being organized to go out to about a dozen “hotspots”—areas of the community affected by the severe weather. The efforts are being coordinated by officials at West Ridge Church in Dallas, and today’s work will be centered around debris cleanup in the 9-mile stretch that the storms impacted. Volunteers participating in debris cleanup will need to bring wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, gloves, chainsaws and other items appropriate for removing trees, tree limbs and trash.

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Storm Cleanup Efforts To Start at Poole Elementary Saturday

Volunteers looking to help the community after last week’s storms will gather at the school in the morning, then disperse to several “hotspots” to clean up debris.

Those looking to help with the cleanup efforts in the wake of last weekend’s tornado and storms should head to Poole Elementary School Saturday at 8:30 a.m. That’s when volunteer groups will gather before being organized to go out to about a dozen “hotspots”—areas of the community affected by the severe weather. The efforts are being coordinated by officials at West Ridge Church in Dallas, and Saturday’s work will be centered around debris cleanup in the 9-mile stretch that the storms impacted. Volunteers participating in debris cleanup will need to bring wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, gloves, chainsaws and other items appropriate for removing trees, tree limbs and trash. Work is also continuing all week long. Those looking for specific …

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'Community Makeover' Volunteers Encouraged to Sign Up

Nearly 2,000 volunteers are needed to complete community service projects July 21-24. Already, about 100 churches from five counties are committed.

Nearly 2,000 volunteers are needed to help with the annual Community Makeover on July 21-24. Individuals, churches, nonprofit groups and businesses all are invited to volunteer for a variety of service projects. Go here to see projects that need your help, "and then register to love your neighbor and engage your community," says Paul Richardson, director of the sponsoring organization, Engage Atlanta. "Join us in this outpouring of God's love and kindness and help make an eternal difference in Metro Atlanta," he adds. Already, about 100 churches from the counties of Paulding, Cobb, Polk, Fulton and Douglas are involved. At the conclusion of that weekend, a night of celebration is planned for 7 p.m. July 24 in front of the Paulding County …

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Engage Atlanta Seeks to Expand Involvement in Community Makeover

A luncheon event will be held Wednesday to inform business leaders how they can be involved in the annual July 21-24 event—and a benefit golf tournament on June 24.

Recruitment for July's Community Makeover 2011 has begun in earnest this month. This annual event is set for July 21-24. Individuals, churches, nonprofit groups and businesses all are invited to volunteer on a variety of service projects. Engage Atlanta Director Paul Richardson said, "This year will feature participation on two Habitat for Humanity Builds, projects with schools and countless projects serving people with acts of kindness all over Atlanta.  "We are getting a ton of requests from area school systems, and we have the opportunity for more churches to get involved than ever before," Richardson added. "Don't sit on the sidelines, but play an active part in engaging Metro Atlanta with the love of Jesus Christ," encouraged …

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Patch Picks

Five Great Nonprofits Making a Difference

Paulding County has many worthy charitable organizations. Here are just a few who need more than your funds, they need you—your talents, your skills, your time—to help many in need.

Warehouse of Hope, 100 Hunter Road off Ga. 92  In January 1995, Craig and Becky Parson formed Warehouse of Hope, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to help those who are "unable to fulfill the most basic necessities of survival." Open Tuesdays through Thursdays, Warehouse of Hope serves 1,200 families each week with free groceries, supplies and clothing. First-time visitors must make an appointment to attend a short mandatory orientation session. To register, call 770-489-0509. In Paulding, Douglas, and Cobb counties, nearly 40,000 children "require financial assistance just to eat lunch," according to Craig Parson. "We get a lot of food, but we don't get a whole lot of canned food donated." Relay for Life of Paulding County The 2011 …

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