Local church provides 1300 filled backpacks to homeless ministry

Contact: Pendra Lee Snyder, 937-304-0010

DAYTON, Ohio, Dec. 15, 2010 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Christmas Gift will keep on giving in the hearts of those who attended Fairhaven's 4 services featuring Christian Music singer/song writer Mark Harris, the worship choir and musicians of Fairhaven church and the Target Dayton Homeless Choir.

And now the community can also help Dayton's homeless. Mark Harris, 15 years with the group 4Him, with 22 No. 1 hits and 8 Dove Awards, is enjoying a successful solo career. On December 11 and 12 he returned to Fairhaven Church where he debuted a song he wrote just for the event entitled, Love Has Come.

The song features both Fairhaven's and the Target Dayton Homeless Choir on the background vocals. The download is FREE. There is an opportunity to contribute to Target Dayton Ministry. All the donations go to Target Dayton. This is Harris' gift to the ministry that moved him and all those who participated in and attended the weekend event.

Fairhaven and Target Dayton Choirs laid down the vocal tracks last week. The final mix was completed in Mark Harris' recording studio in Alabama. Download Love Has Come at www.fairhavenchurch.org/christmas.  

In addition the Fairhaven family filled 1,300 backpacks for adults and children. The church purchased the backpacks, Bibles and radios, and the congregation filled each backpack with essentials from a list provided by Target Dayton.

During each of the services Dayton's homeless were Fairhaven's guests of honor.

Nikki told her story how she became homeless, and then she took the mic and, in pure innocent tones, sang that all she had to give Jesus was her heart. The Homeless choir joined in and behind weather-exposed faces and beaten down bodies came pure joy and smiles as the homeless sang of their redemption.

Over 3,850 attended. Fairhaven is continuing its relationship with Target Dayton. Led by Mark and Cindi Stevens for nine years, the ministry has grown from a small Saturday meal for the homeless into a life-changing ministry serving hundreds of inner city homeless with 8 different services weekly.

Fairhaven Church, 637 E. Whipp Rd., Centerville, OH 45459. Target Dayton Ministry, 111 Xenia Avenue, Dayton, OH 45410

Interviews please contact Pastor David Smith at 937-434-8627; Mark and Cindi Stevens at 937- 902-3849.

To request photos email psnyder@ccn-usa.net or 937-304-0010.