White Flag ministry once again located at FBC family life center

Former White Flag ministry buildings on Roy Kidd Ave.

With Corbin Independent Schools’ recent purchase of the now former White Flag ministry buildings on Roy Kidd Ave., the ministry has relocated back to its original location just across the street inside the First Baptist Church of Corbin’s family life center.

“What’s most important is, if somebody is looking for a hot meal or a room, we are no longer in our old building,” FBC Pastor Alex Lockridge recently explained. “We are back where we started, in our family life center.”

Lockridge said that, now through mid-March, anyone needing a hot meal will be provided one if they come to FBC Corbin between the hours of 4-5 p.m. Monday-through-Friday. If temperatures drop low enough for the ministry to begin providing shelter for those in need, a flag will be located on the ministry’s sign that is located just off of Laurel Ave. Announcements will also be made on the ministry’s official Facebook page.

“On nights that we shelter, just come between 4-5,” Lockridge said. “We will get you registered, and then you can transport yourself, or we can provide transportation if needed.”

As for what will become of the former White Flag ministry buildings, Corbin Independent Schools Superintendent David Cox confirmed that the properties will be torn down as soon as possible in order to make room for parking to accommodate the Redhounds’ football stadium, which is currently undergoing a major remodel.

“Our goal is to obtain all of the property between where the White Flag building is located and the creek,” Cox said, adding that work is still ongoing to obtain a couple of the neighboring lots.

“With the stadium renovations that are taking place, we will be losing a lot of the current parking space, so we want to turn this space into a nice, lighted parking area.”

Getting back to White Flag, Lockridge said that it has been great to see how the ministry has grown over the years.

“The ministry took a hit during the pandemic, because we were trying to find a way to shelter and feed people without being close to them physically,” Lockridge said. “We really lost touch with people’s stories and experience, and what I would call the heart of the ministry.”

“It felt like we didn’t know the people that we were serving, but this year we feel like that is behind us, and we are back to doing the ministry the way that we want to. We are learning people’s stories, and that helps us to solve their situations.”

Lockridge also mentioned that the ministry has begun a partnership with RRJ Solutions of Corbin, which provides case management services that aids people in obtaining and sustaining employment, and finding permanent housing.

“They are solving all of the long term things that we can’t,” Lockridge said. “The partnership is really revolutionizing the ministry.”

For more information on White Flag and First Baptist Church of Corbin, go online to www.corbinfbc.org.