By Brian C. Louwers
C & G Staff Writer

WARREN — For the fifth straight year, Warren’s Liberty Foursquare Church — bolstered now by the support of other local congregations — will reach out to the community of Warren this Saturday through Summerfest.

According to Liberty Foursquare Church Pastor Terry Frazier, the outreach began as an endeavor to assist families in southwest Warren by bringing a day of food, activities, helpful services, and most importantly, hope, to them.

This year’s event will be hosted at Warren’s Shaw Park, on Warner between Eight Mile and Nine Mile roads, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 23.

The Summerfest effort is aided this year by a partnership with several local churches; the Warren Community Church, on Ryan; Warren Woods Baptist Church, on 12 Mile; Living Faith Church, on Ryan; The Tabernacle, on 12 Mile; the International Assembly of God, on Nine Mile; Life Applications Ministry, on Schoenherr; and Bethel Christian Church, on 11 Mile Road.

“Our goal in Summerfest is to reach families in southwest Warren that have been overwhelmed by some of the economic struggles, to bring hope to the hopeless, health to the hurting, and joy to the downcast,” said Frazier. “As a church, I believe that there is a dynamic spiritual healing that we can bring to people’s lives that maybe other resources cannot.”

Frazier said Summerfest would attempt to accomplish those goals by providing free fun activities, games and prizes, and a variety of services, including health screenings, bicycle repairs and haircuts.

He said 300 backpacks loaded with school supplies would be offered, along with 200 boxes of groceries, for struggling families.

“Ultimately, being a spiritual entity, our goal is to pray for people to get some kind of a connection with a God that is much bigger and more powerful than us, that can be there for them every day and help them through the struggles in their everyday life,” Frazier added.

Pastor Jim Thompson, of the Warren Community Church, said the city’s Alliance of Warren Evangelicals got behind the Summerfest effort last year. His congregation will support Summerfest for a second straight year this weekend.

“We’re working together to try to reach out to people in need throughout the community. It has been a blessing, to let people know that God loves them,” Thompson said.

Pastor Darius Walden said the assistance and spiritual support supplied to the community by the effort is in line with Mayor Jim Fouts’ pledge to create a safer and cleaner city.

The church leaders said members of the Warren City Council and the Fouts administration  had been helpful in their support of the event.

“We’re thankful for his [Fouts’] partnership, and our partnership,” Walden said.

For more information about Summerfest, call the Liberty Foursquare Church at (586) 754-2400.

You can reach Staff Writer Brian C. Louwers at brianlouwers@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1089.