Over 1,000 reached during three-day ‘Church to the People’ event in Williamsburg

Over a three-day period this weekend, nearly 300 volunteers from four Williamsburg area churches washed cars for free, handed out free gas cards, bought groceries and prayed and witnessed to people – some of whom they had never met before – as part of a first-time event titled, "Taking the Church to the People."

Most plan to do it again next year.

"Taking the church to the people is what Christianity is all about. These churches love one another and they love the communities they live in. They are trying to let them know God loves them and that we love them personally," said Mt. Ash Baptist Church Pastor Billy Carpenter, who delivered the sermon at Sunday’s event.

Kayla Peace, who organized and spearheaded the event, estimated between workers and participants that well over 1,000 people attended Saturday’s health fair and other events associated with Taking the Church to the People.

On Friday evening, volunteers held a gospel music singing outside Wal-Mart. On Saturday, they conducted a health fair at the Williamsburg Tourism and Convention Center.

In addition, volunteers gave out free bags of groceries, gave free car washes, gave out books of stamps and helped people with lawn care.

In addition, volunteers at each of the four churches involved handed out 200 gift cards for either $10 worth of free gas or $10 worth of items at Wal-Mart.

On Sunday afternoon, volunteers cooked a free barbeque dinner for those in attendance and held a gospel singing and worship service at the tourism center.

Peace said she was surprised by the success of the event, but says she felt "very blessed" by the turnout.

Calvary Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Fred Powers said that at least one person was saved Sunday afternoon, which made the whole effort worth it.

"I praise the Lord today," Powers said.

Powers said that when Peace first approached the church about the effort, he and others prayed about it and decided to trust the Lord.

"He has blessed us in such a mighty way. We have had a good success because we have put him first," Powers said. "People have given to us in money and time. It just all came together."

He admits to being a little surprised that the event was this successful.

"We’ve had wonderful crowds," he added. "We’ve had volunteer after volunteer come and help. Most of all, I think they have all prayed. It has been absolutely great."

Volunteers with Mt. Ash, Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, Rockholds Baptist Church and Wofford Baptist Church raised nearly $10,000 for the effort.

Organizers are hoping to add even more churches to the effort next year.

"You can’t do it one year and not do it the next since we had such a great turnout this year. We’ve had a lot of people blessed by it," Peace said.

"The four churches that have stepped out on faith, I can’t thank them enough for stepping out and helping us."

Williamsburg Tourism Director Alvin Sharpe commended Peace and all the other organizers for the effort.

"I think it is one of the best events that have been put on in this city in a long time," Sharpe said Sunday.

"These churches came together and had music and had the health fair yesterday. When you see all these people out here today, it is just wonderful. Hopefully, next year it will be even bigger and better."

Powers agreed that the effort is just getting started.