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First United Methodist Church in Mocksville will bring the Sprinkle Preaching Mission to the community starting Sunday morning, Sept. 10 through Tuesday evening, Sept. 12.

The mission is in its 43th year, with the Rev. Dr. James A. Harnish as this year’s guest speaker.

Harnish retired after 43 years of pastoral ministry in Florida. He is recognized as a preacher and writer. He is a facilitator for the Institute of Preaching and the author of more than 20 books and Bible studies. He was a consulting editor for “The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible” and a contributor to “The Wesley Study Bible.”

The theme of the messages for this year’s Sprinkle Preaching Mission will be “Finding Your Bearings,” from Harnish’s book of the same name.

“We will hear about times Jesus found His bearings by recalling words and stories from the Old Testament,” said church member, Angie Jordan. “By connecting Jesus’ story with your own, you can find your bearings as you walk the way Jesus walked in the way that Jesus walked it, the way that leads to life.”

Services start Sunday, Sept. 10 with two morning services, 8:45 and 10:55. The evening services continue from Sunday-Tuesday beginning with a hymn sing at 6:45  and the service starting at 7. There will be special music at each service led by Lou Wilson, with organist Tommy Dunn, and other musical guests each evening. Pre-School childcare will be provided for each service. All are welcome.

There will be a hands-on mission project each night for those who want to come at 6:15 and help pack “mission bags” with hygiene kits for those in need. And all donations received during the mission will go to UMCOR (U.S. disaster relief), Davie High Hunger Fighters, and Backpack Buddies ministry.

Dr. Henry Call Sprinkle was a Methodist minister from Mocksville. He was a graduate of Duke and Yale universities. He married Margaret Louise Jordan in 1930. The Sprinkle family spent the majority of their lives traveling the world for missionary work, living in Europe, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Australia before retiring back home in Mocksville.

“Dr. Sprinkle and his family set up an endowment to carry on the tradition of bringing unique and inspiring speakers to Mocksville each year for the church and community to enjoy, and we are proud to carry on the tradition of the Sprinkle Preaching Mission once again this year,” she said.