EASLEY — In what is fast becoming an annual event, Lutheran churches from all over the state recently sent teams of volunteers out into their communities to make life a little better for those who need a hand.

For St. Matthias Lutheran Church, that meant sending helping hands to folks in Easley, Liberty, and the Piedmont areas. "This year we decided to broaden our horizons and invite a nondenominational church to join us," said Laura Spearman, who coordinated the St. Matthias effort. Several members of Total Praise Worship Center joined in the action.

"This was an ecumenical opportunity to work with another group to benefit our community," Spearman noted. About 30 volunteers participated on the St. Matthias team.

The volunteer outreach program is called INASMUCH, which is taken from an oft-quoted Bible verse from the book of Matthews along the lines of "In as much as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me". The volunteer action focusing on community issues can produce surprising results. INASMUCH is intended to motivate believers to action beyond the walls of their specific church to minister to the human hearts and hopes of their broader community.

According to Spearman, it was a statewide "blitz" day for South Carolina Lutherans to blanket our state with good works and acts of kindness to show the love that Jesus has for his children. It is clearly an honor to give something back to the community, which has first given so much to us," says Spearman. "A simple act of kindness like serving someone in need, is multiplied many times over in this concentrated volunteer effort. We give all the glory to God for what we were able to accomplish."

Some of the projects the group tackled included:

-- Building a wheelchair ramp for a couple who are "Meals on Wheels" recipients

-- Yard work and light housekeeping for another elderly couple of "Meals on Wheels"

recipients

-- Fixing a ceiling lamp for a couple who could not accomplish it themselves

-- Making greeting cards for soldiers overseas by younger church members

-- Collecting nonperishable food items to benefit United Christian Ministries and Piedmont Emergency Relief Center. A team of volunteers solicited shoppers as they entered an Ingles store and the shoppers were most gracious with their donations.

-- Cleaning up trash along Powdersville Road

-- Giving back something sweet to those who serve and protect us. Two teams of volunteers delivered baked goods to fire and police stations.