The act of giving took on new meaning for a Prosperity church as the congregation gave more than $36,500 and repaired 16 houses.

The divine intervention began in June when Michael Turner was appointed as the pastor of Wightman United Methodist Church.

While getting to know the new members of his parish, Turner discovered that some of the Prosperity church members were interested in mission work and others had skills such as carpentry.

The church already had an active emergency response team that responds to disaster areas.

Turner said Livingston Street UMC in Camden, where he was an associate pastor, started WARM (Weatherization and Repair Mission) project about 20 years ago after teens had returned from the Methodist Salkehatchie program.

“The youth had a good time and wanted to do something similar while they were on Christmas break,“ said Turner, of the beginnings of the Camden mission.

In October, Turner preached a sermon on “Loving your neighbor as yourself.“ During the sermon he challenged the congregation to give a dollar to the WARM project for every dollar they spent on Christmas gifts.

“We need to celebrate our birthdays on our birthdays and celebrate Jesus' birthday on his birthday,“ said Turner. “We also need to reach out to the same people Jesus reached out to.“

As the days to Christmas drew near the congregation had given around $15,000 to the cause. But Turner was blown away when he was handed a note during Christmas Eve communion stating the fund's offering totaled more than $21,000.

The project was headed up by a steering committee, and during the holidays one of them was wearing a WARM project T-shirt on a visit to McDonalds. A man approached the woman and asked the meaning of the shirt.

She explained that her church was going out into the community and working on homes.

When the man finished his meal he laid a $5 bill on the woman's table and stated he wanted to be a part of something so grand.

Steering committee member Dee Hamm said she knows of one woman in the congregation that gave money to the project when she didn't really have it to give.

In addition to collecting the offering, the congregation began in November to volunteer to work on the project. They had 90 adults and 25 youth sign up, but on Friday and Saturday there was more like 130-135 people working, said Turner.

Hamm said both days between 110 and 150 volunteers and homeowners were fed breakfast and lunch.

Turner recounts that at one point he believed that the church did not have enough homes to work on. The homes had been recommended by members, and at times Turner drove around the county looking for more homes that were in need of repair.

“I drove around knocking on doors,“ recalls the young pastor.

The only requirements to have repairs made were that the person owned the home and had a need. No rental homes were included. Also, the homeowner had to sign a contract stating they knew the work was being done by volunteers. The church selected 16 homes in Newberry, Prosperity and Pomaria to work on.

Some of the homes were painted, floors and siding replaced on others, plumbing work was also done, along with removing trash from properties.

“Our little church made an incredible impact,“ said Hamm.

Turner added the church has about 225 worshipers on Sundays.

“The people didn't realize what they could do,“ said Turner.

“You could feel God's hand everywhere,“ Hamm added.

When a team that included two nurses arrived at one home, the homeowner was having chest pains. The nurses talked her into going to the hospital where the homeowner spent two days in the intensive care unit.

“She told us that she knew angels had been sent to work on her home but didn't know that He sent angels to save her life,“ recounts Hamm. Hamm says her birthday was Friday and her 24-year-old son Sean Elwood came from Columbia to help with the project as a birthday present to her.

The only regret with the project was that a steering committee member Eddie Sloop was injured the weekend before while burning trash. While doctor's orders would not let him help with repairs, he disobeyed orders and went to the worship celebration on Sunday night. The church members worked to fix an enclosed area in the balcony, where Sloop viewed the celebration with tears in his eyes at the amazing work that had been done.

Turner said the church members are discussing the terms of how they will continue the mission. Some questions are if the work will be ongoing or just at Christmas. And other area churches are asking to be a part of the project. Turner adds that anyone is welcome.

Turner said since last Sunday the church has already had seven calls about people needing help with their homes.

Plans for the church in 2008 include “growing in faith,“ said Turner. He says he believes that if a church is growing in spirit that they are also growing in numbers of worshippers.

The church is planning on starting new Bible studies and small growth groups, which will meet two times a month in individuals' homes.