By Nicole Hamilton
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MOUNT AUBURN - Two very different churches came together Saturday afternoon at First Baptist Church with one very simple message.

"We're coming together as one. We're gathering to show that, as a community, we have to stick together," said Yvonne Steel, a member of First Baptist Church, 146 Dorchester Ave., Mount Auburn.

Her church united for a day with Wellspring Community Church in Liberty Township. The predominantly white congregation of about 300 members came to Mount Auburn - along with gas grills and music equipment - for a daylong celebration of community and fellowship.

"It's about inclusion - not exclusion," said Walter Dobbins, pastor of First Baptist. "This is the coming together of the people - to show the city we can be as one."

The community outreach featured free food, performances and prizes.

This is the seventh year that First Baptist Church, which has about 150 members, has hosted the celebration.

It is the first time the church invited another to co-host.

"We want it to include other places," said Dobbins.

E-mail nhamilton@enquirer.com