Soldiers in Kandahar raise money for Pine Belt church - WDAM.COM - TV 7 - News, Weather and Sports

Soldiers in Kandahar raise money for Pine Belt church

Posted: Updated:
By Ashlea Surles, Reporter - bio | email
LAUREL, MS (WDAM) -

A church fundraiser is reaching from Laurel, to London to Kandahar, Afghanistan and back.

The Pine Belt's Magnolia Baptist Church has been raising money to send a group on a mission trip to England in order to volunteer at a London church during the Olympic games this summer, helping with community outreach and activities including Bible study. 

When a church member's fiance, Staff Sergeant Joel Carpenter, who is stationed with the Army in Kandahar, Afghanistan heard about the mission trip he took it upon himself to organize a 5K run fundraising run for soldiers on the base.

"[Carpenter] just simply said 'Look I can't be there to help you, but I can help you here," said church pastor PJ Weeks. "And so they have put together a 5K run, they have close to 400 soldiers in Kandahar, Afghanistan that will be running a 5K run to help us raise money to go to London to serve God."

"They're in a place that their sacrifice is so ultimate," said Carpenter's fiance Gypsy Herrington. "You know they spend all day working and they get off work, and you know him and a group of other soldiers will go and sit out and have all these other soldiers come in and sign up."

The run is scheduled to take place June 24. Until then, here on the home front, church members are selling tee shirts - they're $20 each. If you're interested in purchasing one you can go to the church's web site at MBCLAUREL.COM or call 601 649 5660.