NATCHEZ — The Rev. Bo Swilley issued a simple challenge Tuesday night for this Thanksgiving season to a crowd gathered at Crosspoint Church.

“My challenge to you is to go out and find the folks who are different from us, not just the ones who make us comfortable, and bring them to the table,” Swilley said at the annual Community Thanksgiving Service in Natchez. “We need to go find those that are broken and crippled and bring them to the table.”

The Natchez Area Ministerial Alliance hosted the annual service.

Those in attendance packed the church on Highland Boulevard and answered Swilley’s challenge with a roaring, “Amen.”

Swilley’s challenge, which was derived from the Old Testament, sought to ask the service attendees to reach outside their comfort zones and help those all around them.

“If we follow Jesus’ example, who did he eat with?” Swilley said. “Natchez if full of folks who need to be saved, and Jesus would look down and start reaching and seeking and pulling these folks back to the table.

“But what’s happened to us already sitting at the table, is we’ve gotten comfortable, fat and lazy.”

Swilley, who is pastor of Community Chapel in Natchez, said if those at the table never get up from their seat to help others, than those needing the most help might never receive what they need.

“You will not have the opportunity to share the gospel unless you meet their needs first,” Swilley said. “We are called to show those people they are cared about and loved.”

Swilley used a local ministry, Stewpot, as a perfect example of an organization who reaches out and accepts anyone who enters.

The Stewpot serves between 250 and 300 meals everyday.

“There are opportunities all around us to love on people, to reach out to people and bring them to the table,” Swilley said. “If we take care of their physical needs, we can take care of their spiritual needs.”

The service’s offering was given to the Stewpot, and director Louis Gunning said he was floored at the attendance of the service.

“It’s just amazing to see all these folks out here,” Gunning said. “I don’t often get to thank the community for everything they do for us, but we can’t thank them enough.”

Before Swilley’s evening message, the Crosspoint Church Praise Team, as well as the Ladies of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church choir, uplifted the crowd.

The Rev. Clifton Marvel, the Rev. James Brooks, the Rev. Richard Wood and the Rev. John Kramer all thanked the crowd throughout the service for attending despite cold and rainy weather.