By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

STONELICK TOWNSHIP - A local church says it will help show people that Jesus loves them today with coffee and a 9-volt battery.

Volunteers from Harvest Point Christian Churchin Clermont County will pass out the batteries and free coffee in the hopes of reminding people to change their smoke-detector batteries with the change in Daylight Saving Time, when clocks roll back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday.

"We hope that the batteries can reach families that have a defective smoke detector, and we can help save their lives," said James Carwell, an organizer of the church's outreach effort. "We want to show people the love of Christ and show them that other people love them."

Members of the church decided to put into action the efforts of local fire departments that remind citizens to replace their smoke-detector batteries when they change their clocks.

"Many lives have been saved by working smoke detectors and many lives have been lost because they haven't been working," said Fire Chief Jim Whitworthof nearby Miami Township. "It is the easiest thing a family can do to protect itself."

In 2002, 2,700 people were killed in residential fires and another 14,000 were injured. About 80 percent of those deaths take place in homes without a working smoke detector, according to the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Carwell said the door-to-door effort also allows members of the 1-year-old church, which meets at the Teen Challenge Ranch Gym, 1468 U.S. 50, at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, an opportunity to meet people in their neighborhood.

"We want to show them there's something else out there they should be looking for," he said. "If they find it at Harvest Pointe, that's great. If they find it at another church, that's great, too."

For information about the church, visit www.harvestpointecc.com.