By Bruce Leuthold
On Monday, January 19, 2026, more than 1,052 people, ranging in age from 6 months to 85 years, gathered at Glen Mar Church to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through meaningful acts of service, reflection, and community building. Together, participants from over 45 churches and organizations completed an extraordinary range of service projects addressing hunger, housing insecurity, health access, comfort, creativity, and spiritual growth.
Summary of items created: Over 106,000 meals packed, 97 no-sew blankets made, 736 fishing kits assembled, 700 no-sew hats created, over 700 letters written, 49 hearing and vision screenings performed, 468 Barbie dolls restored, about 200 pillowcases sewn, 30 bunk beds made with 52 sets of slats, about 30 health screenings performed, 30 people participated in guided devotions, over 700 cookies decorated, over 40 people taught how to crochet or knit, 450 pieces of artwork created, about 30 people talked to police officers at their outreach table. In addition, 44 testimonies were written, over 156 service hour forms signed from 64 different schools, over 60 songs of praise sung, and thousands of stories shared among participants over 32 gallons of chili and 400 grilled cheese sandwiches. The off-site activities were at Resurrection West (AMES church), Manna House, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and Home of Our Own.
Spiritual Growth: The Day of Service revealed profound spiritual value and growth across every generation, showing how faith is strengthened when it is lived out through action. Participants experienced Dr. King’s vision as a way of life — serving side by side, learning empathy, and discovering the joy of giving. Across cultures, churches, and even among those who did not identify as religious, people felt welcomed and connected — many describing the atmosphere as one of God’s love, light, and unity.
Testimonies: The testimonies written consistently highlighted three areas of spiritual growth: Awareness of God’s love – Participants described clearly seeing and feeling God’s presence through acts of service and fellowship. Growth in empathy and responsibility – Serving others shifted focus away from self and toward those in need, deepening compassion and civic responsibility. Strengthened community and faith – Relationships were built across ages, backgrounds, and beliefs, reinforcing the church’s role as a place of refuge, hope, and action. The Day of Service nurtured faith through hands-on compassionate activities, taught children and adults that small acts of kindness matter, and reminded the entire community that when people come together in service, God’s love becomes visible, tangible, and transformative.
TNB: God wants us to serve others. I’m here today and have come for this Day of Service with my children to instill that principle in them. In a world with so much hurt and pain, I hope taking these few hours to serve and spread positive vibes makes a difference even if only on a small scale. Small acts of kindness add up! God has been calling on me to speak to him more and find time for my spiritual growth.
Sandra: A particular interaction I had while weighing food packets was one of joy that as a member of Glen Mar, I felt I was doing something greater than being concerned about myself. I thought about those less fortunate than me, those who will benefit from the food we were packaging. I also learned patience as I worked along side the young people who were working slower or didn’t understand what to do. My instinct was to rush but I smiled and thought about our precious youth and what they are contributing to the MLK Day of Service and hope they will remember this experience. I feel extremely blessed to be able to help others. Thanks be to God for leading me here.
Claire: I think this whole day is an act of compassion and kindness. Between volunteers from other churches and the people who actually attend this church, there is always a team of people who channel God’s love. I don’t attend this church, but I’ve been coming to the MLK Jr. Day of Service for as long as I remember, and it means the world to me. The time people give, the kindness they exude, and the love they show is how God’s love should be reflected.
H.M.: What stands out most to me is the clear and unobjectionable evidence of God’s love and light. The great crowd of people from all walks of life giving up their time off from work and school to make someone else’s day or life brighter in small but tangible ways is wonderful to witness in person but more importantly to be part of with my kid. Thanks for hosting these each year.
Anonymous: Serving today helped me better understand God’s love by showing me how important it is to care for others in simple ways. Even small acts of service can make a difference, and that reminded me that God works through our actions. This experience taught me that serving others is not just about completing a task, but about presence and showing care.
