When Pequea Church does something, it doesn't do it halfway — it goes all out.

The Brethren in Christ church in Pequea Township doesn't have just a youth group, it has Xtreme Youth.

It doesn't have just a young adult group, it has Impact: A Community for Change.

"We exist for the community, not our members," said the Rev. S. Dale Shaw, senior pastor.

"We've put our thumbprint on the community," said the Rev. Dawn Groff, children's minister. "We're known."

Now the church &tstr; with a mission to "believe, grow, serve and share" — is adding a Wednesday night service to its schedule, beginning Oct. 7. And its doing it with a bang.

The church will advertise the new service on a billboard on Route 222 just south of the city and has mailed the fall issue of its newsletter, "Currents," to 9,000 area households.

The church also will promote the new program at the Lampeter Fair, run radio spots and other ads and post notices on Facebook.

"We've put more money and initiative behind this than any program in my 12 years here," Shaw said.

The 6:45 p.m. Wednesday service was designed for the cop on the beat on Sunday mornings, or the nurse on duty, the waitress serving Sunday brunch, the runner in a Sunday race, the parent with shared custody and the people who are out of town for the weekend.

It will be a duplicate of the services the church offers on Sundays at 9 and 10:30 a.m.

Pequea Church, with 500 members and an average Sunday attendance of 650 people, worships in a contemporary style with video, drama, dance and a message.

Concept for Kids, with about 250 children from birth to fifth grade meeting concurrently with Sunday's services, also will be offered Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m.

"We want to reach more children in the community with the fun that happens here," Groff said.

The evening will begin with a full-course dinner at 5:45. The cost is $3 for adults or $1.50 for children ages 4 to 11, with children 3 and under free.

The menu for Oct. 7 will feature lasagna, salad, pie, cake and ice cream.

"It's made by some of our best cooks making the finest food," said Dawn Steele, director of marketing and communications.

Shaw sees the Wednesday service as a way to share "the good news" with more people.

He said 65,000 people live within a five-mile radius of the church, and its $1.9-million, 28,000-square-foot addition, with a double gym, built in 2000 is the only large meeting space in neighboring Conestoga.

Pequea Church, known for its annual community Easter egg hunt and fall Super Fest, features a '50's cafe in the basement. Twelve years ago it began Pequea Preschool, with classes for 3- and 4-year olds.

A new toddler gym began meeting weekly this month, along with existing programs: LINC, a women's ministry group; Woman2Woman, a mentoring group; and a men's breakfast.

"We try to put a lot of emphasis on ministry to men," Shaw said, "with fathers speaking on Father's Day, a Drive-Your-Tractor-to-Church Sunday and Car Sunday."

Xtreme Youth, with about 130 junior and senior high students, has moved to Thursdays this year. On Sundays, it offers small groups and classes. This summer, 69 teens and adults worked on missions in Mississippi, New York and Lancaster.

"This is a lively building," said Steele, "filled with people looking to help their families get through life in these difficult times."