Green Springs Baptist Church is known as a warm, welcoming church. While over the years, the country church’s membership has grown, it has retained the feel of a small church where members of the congregation know each other and are involved in each other lives. It has held to traditions, one of which is its annual Harvest Day.

Slated for Saturday, Oct. 5, Harvest Day brings the members of the church together for an annual BBQ/Chicken Salad Plate Sale. That might not sound very unique as many organizations throughout the community hold BBQ plate sales on a routine basis. What makes this event unique is that the food is not bought and then resold, instead, it is handmade by the men and women of the church.

Each year, the men of the church gather to cook the BBQ. This year, the BBQ will go ino the fire on Thursday, Oct. 3. The cooking will begin early in the day, with master chefs Terry Townsend and Wayne Canady overseeing the production. They will slowly cook the BBQ throughout the day, as men from the church drop by to visit, swap stories and watch the process.

While the men are busy taking a turn with the BBQ, the women of the church will be deboning and shredding chickens to make their “world-famous” or at least “Gray’s Creek-famous” chicken salad. Over the years, the women have perfected the recipe, and each year, local residents return to the church clamoring for not only the BBQ, but for the chicken salad as well.

Early Saturday morning, members of the church will gather to make homemade hush puppies that come sizzling hot out of the fryer and other side dishes that accompany the plates. Homemade desserts will accompany each plate, also homemade by the women (and men) of the church. In the past, many local businesses have taken the opportunity to order plates for their employees who work during the day. Take-away plates are available, and anyone interested in placing a large order should call the church in advance so that plates can be ready when needed.

The Country Store is another big hit with the community. Homemade crafts, cakes, pies, jellies, preserves and canned vegetables are for sale at the store. Ada Faye Bramble, the chairman of the year’s event, noted that it’s a great time to pick up handmade crafts, many of which have fall or holiday themes, as well as some great homemade foodstuffs.

Hoping to encourage people to spend more time fellowshipping and getting to know one another, the church has added a number of fun, family-friendly events to the day. This year’s event features a children’s area that includes bounce houses, hay rides, a petting area and more.

Kamin Inman, the acting children’s director, said a number of fun events will keep children entertained and engaged, giving their parents an opportunity to relax, take their time shopping and sit and savor the great fall weather, the great food and feeling of community.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with plates selling for $7, which includes either BBQ or chicken salad with all the fixings. Combo plates with both BBQ and chicken salad are also available. After 1 p.m., BBQ and chicken salad will be sold for $6 per pound.

Green Springs Baptist church is located at 1095 East Green Springs Rd. in Parkton, just off U.S. 301. For more information, about Harvest Day or the church and its programs, visit the website at www.greenspringsbaptistchurch.com or call the church office at 910-425-8601.

Photo: Enjoy a day of fun and fellowship at Greene Springs Baptist Church.