Five Tuscaloosa-area churches are partnering to expand missions and ministry efforts with Clarkston International Bible Church, near Atlanta. Clarkston, known for being a refugee resettlement city, is a mere three-hour drive from Tuscaloosa, so it’s international ministry without needing a passport, said John Brooks, pastor of Five Points Baptist Church in Northport. Send Relief and the church partner to organize day camps each summer, which prompted Five Points’ students to get involved. A full-time accountant, Gillam first started volunteering in student ministry before taking on the part-time staff role of missions mobilizer. “It’s so much fun, I’ve never considered it work,” she said of her student ministry responsibilities.