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When the members of Reba Place Church in Evans-ton, Illinois, discovered that a rotting beam was going to cost several thousand dollars to fix, they dug a little deeper for their offerings. But paying off the bill would have taken a good deal longer if Linas Brown, one of the congregation leaders, hadn't thought of working off the debt as a group.

How?

By doing inventory for a local store. Those with little spare money could still give an evening of simple work.

So they canceled a midweek service (time already reserved in people's schedules) and trekked instead to Evanston's Marshall Field and Company, a six-floor department store that does over $8 million worth of business a year.

On a cold January evening, the doorman signed in 78 church people for a half-hour orientation and then about three hours of work alongside many of the store's 171 regular employees.

"We're very glad to have you," welcomed Mariam Federgren of the book department. "Maybe this time we won't be here till 4:30 in the morning."

For the church people, it was a good chance to work together and meet new folks. And by 10:30 p.m., the church's roof debt was $1,200 closer to retirement.

Six months later Joyce Gelick, assistant personnel manager and store trainer, called again to request help. "I've talked to all eight department managers, and they felt you did such an excellent job last time that we'd like to have you back for another inventory," she said. "What we appreciated most was the team effort and good spirit you brought."

It was also to her advantage, of course, to have everyone from the same place so she didn't need to worry about honesty and security.

The church budget was no longer in the red, but a new ministry to 80 Cambodian refugees had been started. ...

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