YUKON — A group of ministers in this Canadian County community came together in 1993 to establish a nonprofit assistance center for the needy.

That center, Compassionate Hands, is still providing aid to Yukon-area residents as an extension of the pastors and congregations that help support it.

Theresa Sanders, the agency’s executive director, said the center’s longevity shows that the faith community cares about Yukon’s residents.

“They are aware of the needs. Not only the pastors, but the pastors make sure the congregations are aware,” she said.

Compassionate Hands is just one of the ways the Yukon Ministerial Alliance supports the community, the Rev. Roger Woodrome, senior pastor of Town and Country Christian Church, said.

“Even some churches that don’t participate in the ministerial alliance support ministries like Compassionate Hands,” Woodrome said.

The Rev. Roy Jaye, ministerial alliance president, agreed.

He said there are between 30 and 35 churches in the Yukon area and about a third have a minister or ministers in the ministerial group.

Jaye said Yukon is similar to many metro suburban areas in that sister churches within the same denomination interact in collective ministry while participation between churches with different doctrines is limited to two or three ministerial alliance events each year.

He said the alliance sponsors a community Thanksgiving service, the Yukon High School baccalaureate, National Day of Prayer community service and some Habitat for Humanity projects.

CARLA HINTON, Religion Editor, News OK

First Baptist Church of Yukon pastor Roy Jaye poses for a photo in the church’s prayer garden on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, in Yukon, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD