Church Leaders
Each month, Birmingham Christian Family highlights a local church leader who is making a difference in our community. Greg Olexa attends Shades Mountain Baptist Church and formed the “Project 729” men’s ministry in 2013 to live out the church’s motto to “Live Sent.”
1. What inspired you to start this men’s ministry? I started the group out a desire to get men together in fellowship serving the community. I saw that men were wanting to serve others, but did not seem to have many options that provided a monthly connection opportunity. The men that participate in Project 729 are passionate about serving others in their time of need through yard work, painting and light carpentry repair.
2. What is the significance behind Project 729’s name? The name of the ministry comes from the time focus that has been a large part of the ministry’s success. We start our Saturday monthly project promptly at 7 a.m. and finish promptly at 9 a.m. thus the name Project 729. I found that men don’t mind showing up to a work project if they know what to expect. 
3. Who does Project 729 serve? The ministry focuses on yard maintenance primarily for widows and the elderly in our congregation, single mothers and those needing a little extra help. We also have committed to a few area schools, and we occasionally assist the Vestavia Hills Police Department with code enforcement needs throughout the Vestavia community. To date, we have completed more than 143 projects in the 13-year period. It has been a very rewarding experience to be a part of serving individuals in our community and to provide a ministry outlet for men who desire to ” Live Sent” together.
4. How has the ministry grown over the years? We currently have 214 men on our email distribution list! We tell the men when the project is, who it will be serving, the location and what tools to bring. We never require a commitment- just show up if you can. We usually have between 15-25 men attend each month.
If you would like to learn more about starting a Project 729 at your church, email Greg Olexa at [email protected].
– Learn more about churches in our area, including Shades Mountain Baptist Church, at BirminghamChristian.com/findachurch. Are you or someone you know a Church Leader in Central Alabama we should feature? Click here to complete the Church Leader Q&A.
