The yearly Sharefest, a day of mass charitable acts throughout the community, will take place Saturday.
Sharefest is the brainchild of Dr. Quentin Washispack who says he was compelled in 2001 "by the need to provide proof of the gospel; not just proclamation."
"I was confronted by Matthew 5:16: 'Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven,' (and) Hebrews 10:24, 'And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,'" Washispack wrote, responding to questions by e-mail.
Since the first Sharefest in 2001, Washispack, outreach minister for New Life Church, said, the event has become a bridge tying local churches to the community: "a living, breathing bridge constructed of people from over 100 other churches that have begun to understand that when it comes to sharing God's love actions speak much louder than words."
Washispack expects more than 600 people and 30 churches participating this year and said other local organizations including several sororities and fraternities from the University of Central Arkansas, the UCA softball team, several UCA Bible study groups, Faulkner County Drug Court, Conway High School Caring Cats and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People have also pledged their support.
A rally at 8 a.m. hosted by New Life Church will begin the day. What will follow will be charitable acts at 38 locations in Conway and two in Greenbrier.
The locations and charitable acts are:
Arkansas Counseling: Vehicle detailing.
Bethlehem House: Vehicle detailing, installing new floors in hallway.
Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA): Building shelves.
Conway Interfaith Clinic: Painting.
Creative Living Inc.: Painting.
Homes of 18 senior citizens: Painting, landscaping, mowing, organizing, vehicle detailing, washing windows, cleaning.
Faulkner County Day School: Painting.
Faulkner County Work Force: Painting.
Ida Burns Elementary School: Sidewalk, tending a path, sorting clothes.
Independent Living Services (ILS) Colene Home: Mowing, landscaping, cutting hedges.
ILS German Lane facility: Landscaping, washing siding.
ILS Greenbrier facility: Landscaping.
ILS Independence facility: Painting.
ILS Patterson House: Carpet cleaning, washing windows.
ILS Ross House: Painting.
Jim Stone Elementary: Painting, building, cleaning.
Kayes Kolony: Yard work.
Keep Faulkner County Beautiful: Picking litter off streets.
Faulkner County Quality of Life Council: Painting, mowing, sorting, organizing.
Vilage of Seven Mornings: Washing windows.
Village Park of Conway: Entertainment, carpet cleaning.
Women's Shelter of Central Arkansas: Landscaping, removing carpet, organizing.
(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached by e-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1238. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
