Different denominations may worship in different ways, but on Saturday, Aug. 15, those differences took a back seat to a shared mission as Fountain City Churches went Above and Beyond: serving their neighbors.

A coalition of churches joined forces for Operation Inasmuch, spreading volunteers across Knoxville for approximately 40 service projects. The day reflected the message highlighted in the event presentation from Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good.”

Plenty of good was being done.

Volunteers worked on the grounds at Fountain City Elementary, while other teams tackled projects ranging from auto repair and Salvation Army bell ringing to assembling birthday bags, blessing bags and blankets.The variety of projects showed just how many forms service can take. Volunteers packed medicine bottles and food, collected food, provided CareCuts, distributed bus passes and helped with technology through a “Tech for Non-Techies” project.

Others prepared casseroles for Integrity House, created a community garden and sang for residents at Windsor Ridge and Morning Pointe.

Still more teams packed and delivered lunches, served meals, wrote notes, participated in Pots on the Porch, prayed at Fountain City Elementary and Gresham Middle, built a ramp for a neighbor and worked at Sacred Ground, Serenity Shelter and Gresham grounds. Job assistance and school projects were also part of the day.

The photos tell the bigger story: children, teens and adults working side by side, sometimes with tools in hand and sometimes simply offering encouragement.

Operation Inasmuch demonstrated that churches do not have to agree on every tradition or practice to agree on this: Faith can move beyond church walls, and a community is stronger when people serve it together.

Operation Inasmuch in pictures from some of the 4o

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