MT. COMFORT — For years, Chris Sexton has enjoyed going to a local fire department fish fry in the spring, running into friends and catching up with them.
He was thinking about that on a November day in 2017, realizing that the fish fry was still several months away. Actually, any fish fry was several months away.
And so the idea for an indoor church fish fry was born.
The actual frying of the fish for the event in February 2018 was still an outdoor endeavor.
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It was a rainy Saturday with temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s. Winds were strong, and Sexton worried the tent housing the fryers would blow away before the event.
A drip developed over one of the fryers, and organizers had to place a tarp over the tent and batten it down. They opened flaps on the sides to make the tent less vulnerable to the gusts.
Still, inside the tent a crew working in two shifts made batches of battered fish and French fries. Some worked the whole eight hours of the event.
“A couple people will iron man and go coast to coast with me. God bless them,” Sexton said.
Inside Mt. Comfort United Methodist Church, more than 100 people came through for the fish, fries, baked beans and member-made desserts. Greeters stood by to help those who wanted directions to the dining area or just a look around the church.
They considered it a success.
And so the church is making plans for another indoor fish fry, set for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 23.
About 25 percent of the funds raised will go toward a youth trip in June. Another 25 percent will go to other missions, and the rest will go toward other projects in the church and community not yet finalized, Sexton said.
While the meal raises money, Sexton said the event is also about welcoming neighbors from the community to come in, to gather, to know the church is there for them.
David Gioe (pronounced “joey”), one of those iron men Sexton mentioned, said some people didn’t know about the fish fry coming up a year ago but were driving by that day and stopped in when they saw signs for it.
“It brought in a lot of people from the community,” Gioe said.
Gioe said the cooking crew stayed warm in the tent thanks to the heat from the six fryers. He enjoyed a chance to spend some extra time with others from the congregation. Working together like that is a chance to learn more about each other or maybe even make a new friend, he said.
The February 2018 fish fry also fell in the early months of the church’s new relationship with Movie Theater Church, which began having services in another part of the Mt. Comfort building in December 2017. A couple of MTC people offered to lend a hand at the Mt. Comfort event, and quite a few more came and bought fish dinners.
“That kind of gave us a time to get to know them a little better, too,” Gioe said.
Organizers are hoping this is the start of a tradition, that the last Saturday of February will become fixed in local residents’ minds as the fish fry date and a time to come visit with neighbors.
“We’re excited to be able to do it again after a good showing last year,” Sexton said. “It’s a good event. I like seeing the folks come in.”
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Mt. Comfort United Methodist Church’s indoor fish fry is set for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at the church, 3179 N. County Road 600W, Greenfield.
The menu features battered fish, French fries, cole slaw, and signature baked beans. Members make desserts that are also available for purchase.
A children’s meal of hotdog, chips, apple slices and a juice box is available for $4.
Dine-in and carry-out options are available.
Information: mcmethodist.com, 317-894-8965
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