Forum Christian Church hosts farmers market

Until recently, Columbia lacked a farmers market location that was easily accessible to the residents in the southern part of town. At the beginning of the summer, however, Columbia Farmers' Market joined with Forum Christian Church to open a new location.

The church provided space and support for the market, seeing it as an extension of its other community service programs.  The church also has members who participate in Habitat for Humanity and the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen downtown. Participating in the farmers market was an easy choice, church leadership said.

“For us, it just makes sense,” said Scott Sutherland, senior minister of Forum Christian Church. “It just seemed like a very natural fit.”

The church is undergoing renovations this summer, which made some of its normal facilities unusable. The church has had to scale back its Vacation Bible School program to a single day, instead of a weeklong program, but the church has plans to welcome students back to town at the end of the summer.

Members are planning a tailgate party for students to be held on Aug. 29, and a large service combining both of its campuses on Sept. 5.