More than 700 volunteers representing Door Creek Church, an Evangelical Free Church congregation on the eastern edge of Madison, fanned out across Madison and surrounding communities May 16th-17th, for Serve09. They volunteered their assistance for 51 different projects, benefitting organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the YMCA, Schenck School, Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Lake Waubesa Bible Camp, CareNet, Karmenta Nursing Home, Second Harvest, Salvation Army, Ronald McDonald House, Sun Prairie Head Start and Columbus Kindred Kids.
Unlike last year, when the project was called Super Sunday, this year the voluntary activity stretched across both days of the weekend. Volunteers began signing up and choosing the projects on April 11th; adults and children worked together at many locations.
Attendees of Blackhawk Church, another Evangelical Free Church congregation on the west side, participated in a similar Serve 09 earlier in May. More and more congregations have recognized that being a part of a community means more than just providing a schedule of activities in their building on Sundays and during certain weekday evenings.
"I’m so proud to be a part of a church that is excited to be Christs’ hands and feet in a variety of ways, both here and around the world," said pastor Marc Maillefer in his message of appreciation to the congregation. "As Randy Olson and I toured many of the sites, the scene became very predictable. We saw lots of smiling faces, a mix of young and old serving together with enthusiasm and joy. Some of us had the change to interact with people outside of Door Creek and others of us didn’t. Regardless, it was done in Christ’s name and for His honor. God knows the ripple effect of our service can change lives that will change the world."
As part of the church’s ministry to the community, Door Creek volunteers also operate a resale shop called Boomerangs, in the Northgate Shopping Center.