VOLUNTEERS PREPARE MAY GREENE FOR WORSHIP; HOUSE OF HOPE PLANS TO HOLD MANY EVENTS AT OLD SCHOOL

Tonya Schwartz and her mother, Janette Hinze, took extra pains with paint brushes as they put some finishing touches on one of the doorways inside May Greene School.

In one of the hallways Mike Lovig, a youth pastor at First Assembly Church, cleaned an area where the wall and floor join.

Inside the gymnasium of the school, a number of workers, including Matt Schwartz, Howard Suedmeyer, and Dennis Pennington, were busy with cleanup duties.

Saturday was work day, one of several scheduled by House of Hope Church to prepare the old May Greene School building for a "Super Saturday" program Feb. 12 and the first House of Hope service Feb. 13.

"Everything is coming along," said the Rev. Blake Tiemann, better known as "Pastor Blake" to his congregation and friends. "We have another work day scheduled Tuesday and hope to finish things up then."

More than 35 workers were on hand for Saturday's work day.

"We've been busy here ever since we purchased the building, making preparations at the school, converting it into the House of Hope," an outreach of First Assembly of God Church, he said .

The church is currently conducting services at 1148 S. Sprigg, a few blocks southwest of the school's 1000 S. Ranney site, in a building which will go on the sales block as soon as May Greene is ready.

"Help is needed in many areas," said Tiemann. "We're painting, cleaning and moving. And we need some skilled assistance with heating, plumbing and some other areas."

Meanwhile, the Cape Girardeau School District will continue to operate a preschool in two classrooms of the school under a lease agreement with the church.

The church purchased the building last month for $10,000. In addition, the school district should save an estimated $30,000 over five years by leasing space from the church.

School officials said May Greene remains a good site for the preschool program because the children it serves live in the area. The program primarily serves children of low-income families.

Another program being conducted at the site is an alternative school program, which occupies seven classrooms.

"That still leaves us plenty of space," said Tiemann.

The school, which was occupied with public school classes until a new elementary school opened in January, has 21 classrooms, a gymnasium, offices and kitchen.

A number of people working at the building Saturday were members of the church's Praise and Worship Team, whose members make up a band. Tonya Schwartz is leader of the band and plays keyboard, and her husband is drummer. Others in the band include Pennington on the bass and his wife, Wendy, a singer. Also in the band is Suedmeyer, a singer.

The building is a real deal for the House of Hope program, said Tiemann.

Children are brought in for games, songs, Bible lessons and a sack lunch. "We'll have as many as 100 to 150 youngsters ages 5 to 15 here every Saturday for food, fun and games," said Tiemann.

Super Saturday began 10 years ago when members of the First Assembly of God Church saw a need to provide something for the children in Cape Girardeau, especially those on the south side of town. Children from across the city were bused to the church on Mount Auburn Road. Later, the program moved to a location in South Cape Girardeau, where the church rented a store front on South Sprigg Street.

"This new location will be ideal," said Tiemann. We have a gymnasium , and during the summer we have plenty of outside space."