Arizona CityFest’s Season of Service,  the state-wide public service initiative promising catalytic change for the better throughout Arizona’s communities,  was officially kicked-off  Tuesday, October 5 with a ceremony of proclamations featuring Luis Palau, 8 Valley Mayors, State Senator Leah Landrum-Taylor, and Governor Jan Brewer. Over 400 partnering church pastors and ministry leaders were in attendance at the event. This was a truly historic occasion as it marks what will surely be the largest public service campaign in Arizona’s history, and certainly the first of its kind to integrate Arizona’s civic, business and church communities together as a whole, unified entity operating with the single, heartfelt purpose to serve.

A particular highpoint of the event occurred directly following the official proclamation given by Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman, in which Mayor Hallman delivered a visibly impassioned challenge in front of the audience to the other mayors on the event stage to not only volunteer for service projects themselves, but to carry them out in each-other’s communities rather than just their own, as a gesture of the true, selfless nature of service.

Mayor Hugh Hallman, being joined onstage by other civic officials and community leaders, proclaiming the start of the Season of Service for Tempe.

The event concluded with a prayer led by Luis Palau to see the Lord’s hand at work throughout Arizona communities. This sealing act of communion was a moment reflecting that prayer is the first course of action in effecting any positive change.

Luis Palau leading Arizona civic, business and church leaders in prayer to launch the Season of Service.

And now the fun begins…

Any Church or organization interested in carrying out service projects addressing Arizona needs in the areas of hunger, homelessness, education, neighborhood revitalization, family well-being and healthcare can register them  as Season of Service projects on the Arizona CityFest website.

Special Season of Service Impact Days have been set aside between October and March to emphasize one particular service area of focus at a time.

SOS Impact Day schedule:

• October 23, 2010 – Education
• November 20, 2010 – Hunger
• January 17, 2011 – Neighborhood Revitalization
• February 26, 2011 – Homlessness
• March 19 – 20, 2011 – Family well-being (on-site at the Arizona CityFest celebration)
• March 19 – 20, 2011 – Healthcare (on-site at the Arizona CityFest celebration)