First Baptist Church, Lamar MO

The people are nice and place is well organized, but the real highlight is the small wetland on the west end of the grounds, along Howard St.
Stands of native spike rush inhabit the gravel bank, providing food for birds and shelter for various insects. Even better, at least two burrowing crayfish have build their chimneys in the mud there. Their structures filter air down into deep burrows that help stormwater filter into the soil
With conservation and restoration of nature at a critical level of need, stewarding Creation has never been more important. This Church beautifully demonstrates how easily that can be done, by allowing nature to blossom on the margin.
I hope the Church Elders recognize the value of this area, and move to protect it against future development of the grounds. An environmental tithing of this area toward further environmental restoration could see this area reserved against future parking lot development. The creation of a rain garden in this area would prove most fruitful, as it could filter parking lot runoff while providing habitat for existing and additional wildlife.
The potential for robust Creation care is abundant here, and I commend this Church for taking the important steps in a renewed stewardship of the local ecosystem.