A local church is hoping to make a difference in the community this Thanksgiving.

On Thanksgiving, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., members of Green Tree Baptist Church will be serving Thanksgiving lunch.

“The lord has dealt with my heart, and I’ve been asking myself, ‘If the church was lost, would the community miss us?’ ” John Eiland, pastor of Green Tree said.

This is the church’s first Thanksgiving lunch, but there are plans to do this yearly.

“I think this is a wonderful idea, and it’s something that has definitely been needed,” Jasmine Pettis, the praise and worship leader at Green Tree said. “Our mission is to reach beyond the four walls of the church, and touch people in our community,”

The menu includes smoked turkey from Hilltop, cornbread, green beans, sweet potato casserole, and much more.

“We’re expecting a good turn out,” Pettis said, “We planned for a little over 200 people,”

The Green Tree Baptist Church is located at 16554 US-84 in Andalusia. For more information, call the church at: 334-427-0023