By Judy Southard

Mar. 28, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
Members and friends of 12 Olathe churches will be challenged Sunday to put out their hands and serve their community as Volunteer Registration Day takes place for the April 12 Olathe Serve Day.

The event, designed to unite both Christians and non-Christians in Olathe in a day of community service, will begin rain or shine at 8 a.m. at the Olathe District Activity Center,21201 W. 159th St. (159th Street and Lone Elm Road). The public is invited to participate, and volunteers will be given their choice of six service opportunities throughout the city. A first-aid tent will be available in case of emergency, along with Olathe police, fire and paramedic services. Restrooms at the activity center will be open.

In addition to Olathe Bible Church, the organizing church for the event, participating churches will include College Church of the Nazarene, Fellowship Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, Indian Creek Community Church, Life Church, New Journey Church, New Life Community Church of Seventh-day Adventists, Olathe Christian Fellowship, Olathe Wesleyan Church, Via de Esperanza and Westside Church of the Nazarene.

The Rev. David Graves, senior pastor of College Church of the Nazarene, said of past Olathe Serve Days, "College Church has had community service days for many years. However, it has been exciting to join with the other churches to serve our wonderful community. Our people have been blessed to work alongside other Christian brothers and sisters ministering in Jesus' name."

"We feel commissioned," said Mike Bickley, Olathe Bible Church lead pastor, "to love and serve our community. We hope our expressions of compassion and caring will impact people and show them that God loves them and we care about them.

"We know that when we are serving others, we are being who Christ wants us to be," he added.

The Rev. Tom Couric, senior pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church, said, "This is our second year to be involved in Olathe Serve Day. We are happy to be able to give something positive back to our city. We want Olathe to know that the churches love Jesus, love one another and love our city."

"We feel that taking seriously the needs of our community is at the heart of what it means to be people of faith. Bottom line -- people matter," said the Rev. Ron Fisher of New Journey Church.

Clint Sprague, senior pastor at Life Church, said, "Jesus was a servant, and if we want to be like him, we need to be serving others. I am also so blessed to see the local churches unified."

"We realize we can't fix every problem, but we can make a difference," said the Rev. John Clark of New Life Community Church of Seventh-day Adventists. "We want to let the people of Olathe know (that) our churches are not private clubs, but that we care about the community. This is our first year (to be) involved with Olathe Serve Day."

The Rev. Gary Kendall of Indian Creek Community Church said, "We want to live out the love of Jesus and we believe actions speak louder than words. It is great to partner with other churches to demonstrate that we are on the same team. We (at Indian Creek) call service projects like this 'turning our church inside out.'"

Significant Matters, an Olathe-based Christian nonprofit organization, alsowill take part in Olathe Serve Day. Founded in 2005 by executive director Tom Bassford, Significant Matters focuses on connecting people who want to help others with those need help. In conjunction with the Welcome Home Project, Significant Matters will lead teams of volunteers in constructing homes that will be given to four Johnson County families. A fifth family from Greensburg, Kan. -- where a May 5, 2007, tornado destroyed most of the community -- also will receive a new home. Members of that family, along withresidents of Moss Point, Miss., which experienced major flooding in the aftermath of August 2005's Hurricane Katrina, will help with the home-building projects.

The work load for the home construction projects will range from moderate to strenuous, and people of all ages are invited to participate. Workers are asked to bring hammers, gloves and protective eye wear. Parking for volunteers will be available at Life Church at 16103 Lone Elm Road, and water and lunch will be provided. Those interested in volunteering for the Significant Matters and Welcome Home Project opportunity are asked to register at www.significantmatters.com rather through their individual churches.

Other Olathe Serve Day opportunities will include:

--prayer walking and trash pickup on the Indian Creek and Mahaffie Creek trails and on seven Johnson County Park and Recreation District trails. The activity is suitable for families with young children, the elderly, people with physical limitations and those who like to pray. The work load will be light and non-strenuous. Participants are encouraged to bring work gloves and trash bags will be provided by the city.

--service projects at 22 Olathe public schools, which will include landscaping and cleanup projects. The tasks are targeted toward families with or without children and those who like to garden. The work load will be moderate to somewhat strenuous. Volunteers are asked to bring three bags of cedar mulch, rakes, shovels, brooms, leaf blowers and indoor cleaning supplies.

--free automobile checks and oil changes at Bret's Autoworks, 128 N. Mahaffie St. for single mothers and widows in the community. Volunteers also will be available to pray with the women. Grilled hamburger and hot dog lunches will be served and children's activities will take place. The work is suitable for those who enjoy working on cars, changing oil and giving suggestions to car owners on how to care for their vehicles. The work load will feature moderate to strenuous activity. Participants are encouraged to bring tools, a case of oil, an assortment of bulbs, shop vacs, paper towels, glass cleaner, tire gauges and washer, brake and power steering fluids.

--stocking the shelves of the Olathe Community Food Pantry. All Serve Day participants are encouraged to bring a bag of non-perishable food items to the Olathe District Activity Center on Olathe Serve Day. Bagged rice and pinto beans, canned corn, cooking oil and five-pound bags of sugar are suggested. Volunteers will be needed to process the donations at the food pantry at the Via de Esperanza church.

--do cleanup and minor repairs for Olathe residents in need. The activity is designed for families that like light to moderate work. Volunteers are asked to bring lawn mowers, leaf bags, rakes, shovels, trimmers and light home-repair tools. According to Olathe Bible Church statistics, more than 2,500 volunteers from four sponsoring churches participated in the 2007 Olathe Serve Day. An estimated 4,500 volunteers are expected this year.

About Olathe Serve Day, Significant Matters' Bassford said, "It's a great opportunity for people to make a huge difference in the lives of families."

For more information about Olathe Serve Day, call Olathe Bible Church at 764-8280.

-- Contact Judy Southard at 764-2211, ext. 127, or jsouthard@theolathenews.com

Newstex ID: KRTB-0237-24114675