DECATUR - Members of Trinity Church of the Nazarene may be small in number but still dreamed of doing something big.

People in the church's World Mission Society talked about traveling far away. "They say it changes you forever," Gladys Bublitz said. "We wanted to have that experience."

In the end, however, they appointed Bublitz to the new position of Missions At Home coordinator and chose a project in the heart of Decatur.

They are sprucing up Grace House, a shelter for homeless women and children, operated by Decatur Cares Rescue Ministries.

"It's easy to open your wallet and make a donation without really asking anything of yourself," said the Rev. Robert Baker, the church's pastor. "This is what God calls us to do, especially for those closest to us."

Baker said he hopes this is the first of many community projects that will be taken on by the church, which has about 60 active members.

"Gladys is a unique individual who is really sensitive to local needs," he added.

As manager of Decatur Surplus, Bublitz knew Hope's Attic Director Mick McCammack because he had leased space through the store for a car lot before taking the helm of Decatur Cares in June.

She, Shirley Travis and Ilene Wong have been painting rooms on the main floor of Grace House on Mondays, with some weekend help from Walt and Teresa Lehigh and Keith and Linda Rawlings. Outside, Randy Tague has been caulking windows, and Robert Duncan has been replacing pieces of siding.

David Tague plans improvements to a second-story bathroom, and at least two Decatur merchants also plan to get involved. Good's Furniture is standing by to donate carpeting for the bedrooms, and Decatur Wallpaper Center is waiting to put in wallpaper and window treatments after the painting is done.

The paint was donated by Macon County Solid Waste Management.

Chris Hall, day supervisor at Grace House, said the work is giving the shelter a much-needed update, its first since opening in 2000.

"This just brightens it up and gives it a happy atmosphere," Hall said.

McCammack said every little bit helps Decatur Cares Rescue Ministries, which also operates the Water Street Mission shelter for homeless men.

"We are very grateful for all the help we receive, no matter how big or small," McCammack said. "This is what keeps us going."

But the church volunteers believe they benefit, too.

Both Travis and Wong said they like to paint and wanted to be a part of the project. "It's satisfying to help others rather than sit around the house," Wong said.

"We are God's hands and feet, caring for people he cares about," Bublitz said. "The greater blessing comes to us."

Theresa Churchill can be reached at tchurchill@herald-review.com or 421-7978.