Hundreds turn out to help neighbors

Taking a quick lunch break from the wheelchair ramp he and several others were constructing, Adam Reed said the work of Restoration Weekend wasn’t solely about helping others.

“We’re serving other people, but we’re also serving God,” said Reed as he sat at the rear of Arts of Illusion, a beauty salon whose owner wants to provide better access for her wheelchair-bound patrons. “We’re serving others and glorifying God and the kingdom.”

Reed was among 680 individuals working on 110 projects during the Saturday event organized by Marion First Church of the Nazarene.

Projects in addition to building wheelchair ramps included cleaning gutters, cutting trees, planting flowers and hauling away debris, event coordinator Stephanie McDaniel said.

“We’re just reaching out to the community,” McDaniel said. “This is just such a time of need for things people need to have done that otherwise wouldn’t get done. … Basically, we’re just showing God’s love through tangible acts, acts of things that we can do for people in our community.”

While Reed, joined by his father Norm, was participating for the third time in Restoration Weekend, David Hause was enjoying his initial assignment with the 3-year-old annual event.

“It’s the starting of a ministry where people need to be helping others,” Hause said, adding that he’s assisted others on his own, as well. The size of the Nazarene project impressed him.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “The thought to bring 680 people into one location. … It’s just a way to share Christ with our community. It’s great to see people willing to get out here and do this.”

via Hundreds turn out to help neighbors | marionstar.com | The Marion Star. By John Jarvis