The sabbath. A day for congregants to share their love of God in song and Scripture at church.

But on Sunday, members of a Cranberry Township church ministry took their message to the street, specifically Butler's Island neighborhood, to show their love in deeds, not just words or hymns.

The Victory Family Church group Fishers of Men were in the city to pass out turkeys ahead of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. But that's not all.

Along with the turkey giveaway at Rotary Park, ministry members also served up hot meals of chili on the chilly, but sunny, Sunday afternoon.

“We're an outreach ministry and we're here just to share the love of Jesus and to let people know that God loves them unconditionally,” said one of the ministry leaders.

He and the others who organized and directed the activity did not want their names used for this report.

“It's about Him, not us,” the same ministry leader said in explaining the reason for members' anonymity.

The line for the meal of chili, corn bread and cookies stretched quite a ways as men, women and children waited their turn to be served.

The organizers guessed they served 150 people or so and used 30 pounds of meat to make the chili.

For a brief moment, officials thought they were going to run out of food. Fortunately, they didn't.

“It was close there for a while,” a ministry member acknowledged.

The turkeys, however were another matter.

The supply of 90 whole frozen Honeysuckle birds, each weighing between 12 and 15 pounds, did not meet the demand.

“We were limited to what we could give,” said a visibly disappointed ministry official.

He said the group now knows to plan for more turkeys when they expect to make another delivery next year around Thanksgiving.

But for those who got a turkey Sunday, there was gratitude and appreciation for the outreach.

“I'm a single mother and need help with food,” said Karns City resident Sherri Brown. “It's really nice of them to help.”

She noted she occasionally works for a group home and has attended Victory Family Church with clients of the home.

Mary Ann Deal, of Butler, was giving thanks for the turkey she received. It will be served at a family dinner that will have somber overtones this year.

“My sister has leukemia and we're all having Thanksgiving dinner with her,” Deal said. “She can't cook and we're going to be doing the cooking.”

Deal's older sister, who lives in Butler, was diagnosed with leukemia about two months ago.

She praised the church for coming to Butler to help those in need.

“It's great,” she said.

The Fishers of Men ministry was in Beaver County the day before doing the same work, with members giving away turkeys

The church group is a mainstay at Rotary Park, serving meals there every third Sunday. The group also was in Butler's Island this past spring to give away hams for Easter.

“Our whole purpose,” said a ministry official, “is to let people know God loves them and Jesus died for them.”