Todd Parmenter, executive minister at Lincoln Christian Church, and Ron Otto, preaching minister, are elated over finally proving Abraham Lincoln's connection to their church.

 

But the men don't want the historic announcement to overshadow the real purpose of their research, which was to provide a foundation for future church plans.

Parmenter and Otto discovered the connection as they prepared their fall kick-off series, "An Insiders Look at Lincoln Christian Church."

"What does this mean to Lincoln Christian Church and the town of Lincoln?" Otto said, posing a rhetorical question.

"It shows that from the very beginning of our church, we have been involved in our community and had a heart for our community."

"As historic as this church has been," Parmenter said, "our plan for the future will have an even greater impact on this town, the people of our community and the world."

Parmenter said the Lincoln Christian Church plans to launch a project in September 2008 that will include any other church in town that wants to sign on.

"We're going to launch a ministry to help disadvantaged people who need help with home maintenance and repairs or quality of life issues," he said. "It will be similar to the work camp that was here two years ago, but on an ongoing basis."

Parmenter said the program will not duplicate any work that's being done by the Good Samaritan Program at Jefferson Street Christian Church.

"Craig (Smith, senior pastor at Jefferson Street) and I have been talking for the last three years, asking what we can do to involve all the churches and serve the entire community," Parmenter said.

"It's in the very beginning of the planning stages, and it will launch in September 2008.

"These are the kinds of things Lincoln Christian Church has always done - taking on big projects."