Over 500 People Go from "Seats to the Streets" to Provide Immediate Aid in Essex, Morris and Middlesex Counties
MORRISTOWN, N.J., Nov. 1, 2011 — Liquid Church of New Jersey is responding to local groups' dire needs by mobilizing hundreds of volunteers and injecting over $60,000 into immediate assistance projects in the Morristown, New Brunswick and Nutley vicinities. On November 5, hundreds will rebuild a condemned transition residence of a homeless mission and serve hot meals to the urban poor on the streets. Momentum of pay-it-forward projects on an individual basis is also mounting. This aid is in addition to $30,000 given out to over 2,000 people attending a recent church service.
"Our communities can't wait for the government, FEMA, or Wall Street to eventually sort things out. We're putting God's recovery plan into action today," said Tim Lucas, Lead Pastor of the 2,000-member church. So far, over 5,000 hours of volunteer service efforts are involved in this pay-it-forward movement. "Some people are trying to Occupy Wall Street, but I love seeing our people move from their seats to the streets to make things happen now," said Lucas.
On November 5, the church will deploy volunteers into Paterson to feed the hungry, onboard mobile resource buses operated by NYC Relief Bus. Volunteer service slots for the first six buses were oversubscribed immediately. The church is now facilitating an ongoing outreach schedule as well as injecting $20,000 toward operational funding. Over 100 volunteers will be involved throughout 2011 and 2012.
On the same day, 150 volunteers will supply the labor to renovate a recently devastated transition home in Morristown for Market Street Mission. Liquid has partnered with local organizations Habitat for Humanity and College Hunks Hauling Junk to help plan the project. Investors Charitable Foundation has issued a grant to help fund the restoration project.
Another 200 people volunteered in a recent outreach day in Manville on October 22. Activities included 600+ man hours of renovation construction for homes still devastated by Hurricane Irene, a 125-person Fun Run Fundraiser put on by grass-roots organizers and an all-city block party.
The church is also collecting details of individual pay-it-forward projects by churchgoers inspired by the church's recent $30,000 Reverse Offering. Profits have ranged from 20 dollars to 5,000 dollars for the dozens of projects reported.
"Government isn't the source of recovery — God is," said Lucas. "I'm thrilled to see our people actively occupying the streets of our cities with God's love to demonstrate that fact."
ABOUT LIQUID CHURCH
Liquid Church is one of NJ's fastest-growing Christian churches. Founded in 2001 by Lead Pastor Tim Lucas, the church's vision is to "take church to the people" with campuses in Morristown, New Brunswick, and Nutley. Over 2,000 people experience Liquid's worship services each weekend in New Jersey and around the globe through Church Online. As a part of its global outreach Liquid provides clean drinking water to the poorest of the poor with dozens of completed projects in Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Haiti and El Salvador. More details are available at: http://www.LiquidChurch.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Members of the press are invited to join the volunteer crews on Friday onboard the Relief Bus in Paterson or Saturday at the Mission renovation site in Morristown. RSVP Rich or Kenny for arrangements:
Rich Birch
908-312-0003
Kenny Jahng
Email
973-500-8536
RELATED LINKS
http://www.liquidchurch.com/media/payitforward
# # #