Members of the Church of Christ at Canal Heights will be a little busier this weekend as they prepare for their semi-annual gospel meeting, which begins Sunday morning.

The stretch of activity opens Saturday morning when many of the members will go throughout residential sections of Demopolis, meeting citizens and extending invites to the event.

“Christianity in action, literally walking the walk instead of just talking the talk,” Justin Paschall, full-time minister of the Canal Heights congregation, said.

In recent years, the meeting has invoked a positive response from congregation members. Still, the leadership of the congregation is hopeful the next installment of the regular event will reach a broader audience.

“We have good attendance from the members of the congregation and we have some visitors,” Paschall said of the customary turnout for the meetings. “But we want to extend an open invitation to everyone to come and hear God’s word.”

The semi-annual meetings allow church members and visitors to hear the gospel message from another perspective, a fact Paschall knows is beneficial for the faith of many.

“It’s an opportunity for the church to fulfill its mission of evangelism. It’s an opportunity for encouragement and education from the Bible,” Paschall said. “Every preacher has a unique style and bringing in another preacher gives you a change from what you’re used to. Two preachers can present an identical lesson and you will walk away gleaning different points from each.”

This particular meeting will feature Tim Hayes, the preacher of the Logan Martin Church of Christ in Pell City.

Hayes, 52, is a graduate of the Memphis School of Preaching, where he was one of Paschall’s classmates.

“Tim is a good Alabamian,” Paschall said of Hayes. “He can make the most difficult of passages understandable for regular folks.”

Hayes’ Sunday morning Bible study lesson will be on obedience to God in the patriarchal age. Sunday morning services will focus on obedience to God in the Mosaical age. Sunday evening, the focus will shift to obedience to God in the future.

Monday night, Hayes will discuss “The Significance of One” with a lesson that delves into Ephesians chapter four. Tuesday, Hayes will lead a study of grace entitled “A Place at the King’s Table.” The meeting will culminate Wednesday with a look at Christian conviction in a lesson called “Every Man a Beam.”

The meeting begins with the 10 a.m. Bible study on Sunday morning and will continue with morning services at 11 a.m. It resumes Sunday evening at 6 p.m. and then will run through Wednesday at 7 p.m. each night.