The Superior Express -

Two churches in Benton, Tennessee, joined forces for a mission's trip to Superior last week. Mike Hazlewood, pastor of the Zion Baptist Church has been leading summer missions trips for each of the past 34 years, mostly north and west of Tennessee, but much closer to home.

"I want members of my congregation to experience a different culture," he said. "For most of them who came, this is their summer vacation."

Members of the group ranged in age from 2 to 60. Each of the past 17 years, Hazlewood has visited the Superior area to hunt turkeys and this fall hopes to return to hunt deer.

Many years ago, a trucker introduce Hazlewood to Butch Higer, Superior, who was a mutual friend. Hazlewood has a passion for hunting turkeys and Higer, both a trucker, custom harvester and avid story teller, knew where to find an abundance of turkeys and hunting opportunities in northern Kansas and southern Nebraska.

Much of the past year, Higer has been hospitalized or in the nursing home related to an infection and the need for hip surgery. Last spring, Hazlewood came to the area to visit Higer and paved the way for Higer to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior. Hazlewood then searched for an area pastor to shepherd and befriend Higer. That is when Mike Sander, pastor of Harvest Christian Church, Superior, enters the story.

Mike Hazlewood and Mike Sander share a common vision.

Sophia Fullerton

Food and fun marked the activities last Thursday evening at the Superior City Park. Verlene (above) and Richard Watson manned the popcorn machine.

"Our mission trips are designed to help new church plants and church who are revitalizing," Hazlewood said. "Revitalizing is what is happening at the Harvest Christian Church."

Thursday evening, Higer was at the Harvest Christian Church Fun Night along with a host of other area residents. Thirty-two people from Tennessee helped local church patrons with the activities. During the day, door hangers had been distributed throughout Superior, which included an invitation to the fun night and the Logos version 21 of the Gospel of John - is the one book of the Bible primarily written to those who have not yet believed in Jesus Christ.

The hour and half event featured bounce houses, games, face painting, balloon art, food and refreshments such as popcorn, hotdogs, water, and snowcones. Christian music could also be heard blocks away from the event.