Calvary Church service day helps many throughout community
By Michael Picarella
Acorn Staff Writer

LISA ADAMS/T.O.A. SPRING CLEANING-Diane Losie, left, and Tanna Ratnavale polish a clothing rack, while in back Paul Losie runs a vacuum, as part of an effort to clean at the Senior Concerns Bargain Boutique and Thrift Shop on Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks Saturday. The three were part of a team of congregants from Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village who participated in an event called "Beyond the Walls, Intentional Acts of Service." An estimated 1,000 church members fanned out across the valley to lend helping hands were needed.

A helping hand to your fellow man is a gesture always appreciated Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village sponsored a new day of community-wide services last weekend, and according to Denise Davis, a spokeswoman for the church, the gestures were definitely appreciated. The event was successful, Davis said.

The service event, called "Beyond the Walls, Intentional Acts of Service," launched Calvary parishioners into the community to give back to society and model the love of Jesus Christ through acts of service for others, according to Bill Van Derripe, team coach for World and Community Outreach at Calvary.

"Beyond the Walls" involved baking, cleaning, fixing and doing just about anything else for the elderly and others in need throughout Conejo Valley and Oxnard. Church members accomplished about 80 projects during the event, according to Davis, and at least 1,000 people—including adults, teens and kids—participated. The activities were planned in advance.

"We had several hundred Calvary members come back to church on Saturday evening for a barbecue and everyone was unanimous in wanting to do this type of service outreach again," Davis said. "Additionally, we asked people during Sunday service to write their thoughts about the day. So many people were touched by the ability to help others. It was wonderful to see Christ in action."

Beyond the Walls was born when Calvary members got together with the church’s World and Outreach Team and dreamed about a concerted effort to thank the area in which they live, work and worship.

"Calvary has been so blessed that we wanted to demonstrate our thanks to the community that supports us," Davis said. "In addition, Christ’s mandate to believers is to love your neighbor. Beyond the Walls is just putting Christ’s words into action."

Individual people weren’t the only helpers last weekend. Chevrolet dealerships in the Conejo and Simi valleys, Oxnard, Ventura and Woodland Hills offered coupons for a free lube, oil and filter change to benefit single parents.

"That offer will be good through the end of June," Davis said.

Davis said that due to the success of last weekend’s event, Calvary would plan to make Beyond the Walls take place annually.

"But we would not be surprised to see regular, planned community outreach become a quarterly or monthly event," Davis added.

Calvary received outside donations of materials, such as cleaning supplies, building materials, landscaping items and financial contributions to make Beyond the Walls a reality last weekend.