About 1,200 people in yellow shirts dotted the landscape of Cape Girardeau on Saturday while conducting hundreds of service projects.

Members of 12 churches joined forces for a "service blitz" meant to unite people in faith and improve the community. Volunteers painted houses, visited senior centers, worked at food banks, cleaned schools and worked in yards, among other tasks.

"This is what church is all about. We teach our Sunday school classes that the Bible can be summarized in four words: love God, love people. This is the love people part," said Tim Simmers, who led a group of about 12 people in painting a map of the U.S. on the Jefferson Elementary School playground and installing two basketball hoops.

The blitz started last year at La Croix Church as a part of its 40 Days of Community, which challenged members to define their role as a church and answer "what on Earth we are here for," said the Rev. Rob Mehner. About 900 people participated in last year's event.

This year members wanted to provide opportunities for others and cross boundaries — whether they be denominational, geographic, economic or racial. Many of Saturday's activities centered on building relationships.

"We want to break that division and provide social interaction between people from all walks of life," said Scott Johnson as he surveyed a crowd gathering at a park near Fort D in South Cape. Johnson, a member of True Vine Ministries, helped organize a barbecue for people to attend after completing their service project.

By noon, a diverse group had assembled for burgers, hot dogs, fish, chicken and chips. Gospel music blared, children had their faces painted and people played volleyball. "This is pretty unique. I think it's awesome," said Dominique Criddle, 13, who arrived with friends Khadijah Miller, 12, and Dustin Kirby, 14.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Justin Brown and Joe Bishop spruce up the landscaping at the Cape Girardeau Senior Center with volunteers from LaCroix Church during the service blitz Saturday.

Across town, David and Lillie Kilburn watched as a team of volunteers scraped peeling yellow paint off their house on North Spanish Street and replaced it with a fresh green.

"Our house needed painting real bad, and we didn't have the money to do it," Lillie Kilburn said. "It looks a lot better. We love it."

Saturday evening the movie "Facing the Giants" was shown in five locations as another opportunity for people to build relationships.

Each volunteer wore a bright yellow shirt. Lana Cook, who helped her husband, Mark, paint the map at Jefferson Elementary, where her husband is principal, said the shirts symbolize a common faith and heart.

"When you see the shirt, you know what they believe and why they're here," she said. "It's to serve our Savior."

lbavolek@semissourian.com

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Churches that participated:

La Croix Church

Cape Bible Chapel

Cape First

First Baptist Church

Grace United Methodist

Lynwood Baptist

Mount Auburn Christian Church

New Bethel Baptist

St. Andrew Lutheran

St. Vincent de Paul

True Vine Ministries

Westminster Presbyterian

*Love INC., which stands for Love In the Name of Christ, and the United Way also participated.