Members of The Vine Church are planning to go out and serve the community in their second annual Serve Day on Sept. 12.

“The purpose is to reach a community through God’s love,” said Josh Gray, Serve Day coordinator. “We can do this by picking up trash, cleaning yards, helping the elderly or veterans and all the things the Bible says we should be doing.”

Gray said that team leaders will be chosen, and those leaders will be over different projects. Each leader proposes a project that will be approved by The Vine, and those projects will be completed Sept. 12 from 8 a.m. to noon.

“We are hoping to have a lot of leaders so we can spread out across the community,” Gray said. “We don’t want everyone in one area because we want to serve the best way that we can.”

Louis Johnson, pastor of The Vine Church, said that these acts of faith are what the church is called to do.

“We felt the need to take the church outside the four walls and do what Jesus did – serve our fellow man,” Johnson said. “It’s important for the church to realize that we are called to be servants and active in our faith. It’s not just listening to a sermon on Sundays and going home. We have to act our faith out in our communities.”

Gray, agreed, saying that anyone who has a relationship with Jesus has a passion to serve others.

“We are the body of Christ, and we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus,” Gray said. “We want to make the community aware of the love of Christ. If you are in Christ, you have the heart to do this.”

Last year, those participating completed projects such as helping widows with work that needed to be done at the house, mowing yards, trimming bushes and other projects.

“Whatever people normally can’t do for themselves that is what we go and find and do,” Johnson said. “There are a lot of needs out there.”

Gray said that pouring out the love of Christ to others has always been a blessing.

“It is awesome because I think a lot of people don’t expect that rush of love that happens,” Gray said. “It is always a blessing for people. I know it is for me.”

Anyone interested in participating in Serve Day or would like to request a project can email church@thevinetroy.com. Projects must be submitted by Sept. 8. Those participating will receive a free t-shirt.

“If anyone wants to be involved, you can email us,” Gray said. “We can get you plugged in and serving with other believers. It doesn’t matter what church you go to; we are all called to do this, and it is always a blessing.”

Anyone wanting to participate in serve day can meet at the Troy Parks and Recreation Center Sept. 12 at 8 a.m.