Local congregations have organized a “Be the Church Day” for Sunday afternoon when members of different churches will set forth into the community and do work projects such as landscaping, cleaning, painting and window washing.

“‘Be the Church Day’ is a statement to the community that we are not just the ‘church’ on Sundays at our particular locations. It is not what we do on Sundays that say who we are, but what we do in the community on a daily basis that determines the character of Christ in all of us, despite our affiliation,” said Richard Bracht, pastor for the Wilmington Assembly of God.

Ten churches have said they will participate in the “Be the Church Day” event.

The churches are Dove Church of Wilmington, Wilmington Church of the Nazarene, Wilmington Church of Christ, Crossroads Community Church, First Church of God on A Street in Wilmington, Community Christian Church, Wilmington Assembly of God, Living Word World Outreach, Word of Life Christian Center and the Faith Lutheran Church.

Further explaining the intention behind the event, Bracht added, “Like the old saying, ‘It’s not what I say but what I do that counts.’ Jesus went about doing good works that identified God’s love for humanity. We must do the same if we are to walk in a manner worthy as He walked on the earth.”

“Be the Church Day” also will illustrate that people with religious commitment can reach out not only individually but also “corporately” as part of the church body, said Bracht.

To learn what projects are available and doable, Dow Tippett, pastor for the Crossroads Community Church, called businesses and spoke with people around the community.

“Even with 10 churches, we couldn’t adopt all the projects,” said Bracht.

To identify the churches’ united efforts, many but not all participants will wear a T-shirt bearing a big hand print and a question ‘How’s my serving?’

Anyone — T-shirt or not — is welcome to join the work crews that day. They will meet 2 p.m. Sunday at J.W. Denver Williams Jr. Memorial Park to start with prayer, then head out to a variety of sites including schools, government agencies and businesses.

“It’s our way of saying thanks. Our way of saying we want to be here to help out and serve and accomplish the needs of others,” Bracht said.

Larry Speelman, pastor for the First Church of God on A Street, first raised the idea of a local “Be the Church Day.”

The planned schedule of activities are below.

Dove Church will wash windows at UDF, Gas America and Marathon. They also will wash lower windows at Quaker Apartments and pull weeds and trim shrubs. They will do something as well at Rainbow Village, but as of press time the project was undetermined.

Church of the Nazarene will go to four special needs locations to plant flowers and other plants: Smith House, Barker House, a Nunn Avenue site and two apartments on Clinton Street.

Church of Christ will paint walls at Denver Elementary School and paint curbs and chain-link fencing at the Clinton County Fairground.

Crossroads Community Church will be at the Clinton County Youth Council facility where they will paint, pick up litter, hang basketball hoops, plus do minor repairs and clean the kitchen.

The A Street Church of God will be at the Clinton County Family YMCA doing jobs yet to be assigned. They also will be at the Adult Day Care Center removing wheel chair black marks from floors and walls, removing wax and rewaxing bathrooms.

Community Christian Church will be at Help Me Grow and receive work assignments when they get there.

Wilmington Assembly of God will paint at J.W. Denver Williams Jr. Memorial Park and at Neighborhood Southeast Park off Paris Avenue in Wilmington. They also will mulch at the Southeast Park, and wash windows at BP gas station and plant flowers at Burger King.

Living Word World Outreach, Word of Life Christian Center and Faith Lutheran Church will be helping but did not have their assignments at press time.

At about 5 p.m. Sunday, participants will meet back at J.W. Denver Williams Jr. Memorial Park and share a worship service, fellowship and a cookout.