Thousands will put faith to work in April

Remember the little ditty, ’ÄúHere is the church and here is the steeple, look inside and see all the people’Äù and you used your hands to show it?

Well, come April 26-27 many churches in San Diego County will not have the people inside their buildings because the people will be using their hands to make their community a better place to live.

So far, about 50 San Diego churches have signed up for the first national Faith in Action weekend. Instead of having church, they will be the church and select projects like painting, weeding, rebuilding and sprucing up their communities ’Äî especially where the need is greatest.

’ÄúWhat’Äôs really good about the project is that it’Äôs very flexible,’Äù said Anne Subia, coordinator for Outreach, Inc., which is spearheading the effort along with Vision San Diego, Zondervan and World Vision.

’ÄúSeveral small churches can work together on a big project or it can be something easy like taking disadvantaged children to a Padres game,’Äù she explained. ’ÄúSome churches are really closing their buildings for the weekend and others that have services on more than one day will ask their members to work one day and attend church the other day.

So far, Subia said that two of San Diego’Äôs megachurches have said they would participate ’Äî Skyline Church and The Rock Church.

In addition to service projects, the sponsors are urging churches to participate in a four-week church-wide campaign that helps create an outward focus and heart to serve.¬Ý

Another national campaign will be held Oct. 12, but Subia noted churches can do something like this any time. In fact, many are doing similar projects throughout the year.

For details, call 800-991-6011, ext. 3260 or visit www.putyourfaithinaction.org.