By Frank X. Ellis

"People had thought the church was only concerned with spiritual things."

Rev. J. C. Carter, arriving a few minutes after the dinner had begun, summarized the work of the Sweetwater Valley Community Action Mission Program (SVCAMP) in those 11 words.

Carter, now pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Macon, was among invited guests attending the 25th anniversary celebration/appreciation dinner at South Cobb High School Oct. 26. The observance marked a quarter century of Christian, interdenominational outreach meeting basic emergency needs through effective volunteerism and charitable gifts.

Carter, then pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Powder Springs, had joined forces in 1968 with community spiritual leaders such as Father Bill Hoffman and Rev. G. Wallace (Wally) Kilpatrick in founding the much-needed organization. Father Hoffman was then serving as pastor of St. John Vianney parish in Lithia Springs while Kilpatrick was pastor of Austell's First Baptist Church.

"In those early days," Carter recalled, "we were concerned with such things as food, clothing, supplies and even things like safety, especially at local railroad crossings. We were trying to meet the total needs of the community."

The SVCAMP group now includes at least 11 different denominations as part of the Christian ministry. A number of small businesses, factories and individual workers make contributions with some firms providing matching funds for their employees' contributions.

Father David Stachurski, OFM Conv., current St. John Vianney pastor, serves as SVCAMP president now. His annual report showed the program has blossomed from that early beginning to be multifaceted.

SVCAMP now includes a food pantry, clothing center and offices under one roof; a transitional shelter for the homeless; a summer food drive; and Election Day "canned-goods-to-the-polls" effort; a CAMP Day of Prayer; the seeking of Community Block Grants; an annual community Thanksgiving Day service (which the group initiated with Carter preaching the first sermon); and the receiving of a federal tax number giving the project even more viability as a non-profit institution.

The organization recently was awarded a $3,600 grant from the Atlanta archdiocesan Campaign for Human Development. Father Stachurski had requested the grant, explaining "SVCAMP is the only significant social-helping agency covering Powder Springs, Austell, Clarksdale and Mableton."

The program requested CHD funds to continue services of a part-time director, noting the presence of Ruth Reid as director had increased SVCAMP's income, name recognition and networking with the business community and permitted it to expand its hours.

Interviewed before the dinner, Rev. Joe Conyers, pastor of Austell First Presbyterian Church over 20 years and another early SVCAMP member, explained the project as "a concern and mission of the churches to serve those in need."

"Father Hoffman and Wally Kilpatrick were strong leaders in those first days. Both were concerned the church be involved in the community, along with people like Rev. J. C. Carter."

Kilpatrick also credited a member of his church, Bill Stejback, a retired Army Ranger and Vietnam veteran, with instigating the project. Stejback, now a chicken farmer in Athens, took the lead in finding ways to bring surplus commodity foods from storage in Marietta to those needing them in South Cobb.

Kilpatrick further noted "back then in 1968 we needed for blacks and whites, Baptists and Roman Catholics, people of all colors and creeds to get together and work for good. This program was part of that need."

Father Stachurski noted that "a large number of our Lithia Springs church parishioners live in the Austell-Mableton area and hence our involvement. I'd say we have about 20 members of our parish serving as volunteers."

Several parish volunteers were among those honored at the banquet. Receiving certificates of appreciation were Frank Debes, Donna Gangloff and Sharon Loiselle. Ms. Gangloff is SVCAMP secretary and Ms. Loiselle is SVCAMP treasurer.