Lois Howard directs Culver City church’s community services, but one outreach has captured her heart. “The ‘Agape Light’ Tattoo-Removal Program brings people who are open to spiritual messages,” she explained. “There is such a spiritual presence at the programs.”

The story of Adventist physician Steven Popkow lasering away tattoos in L.A. and Bakersfield for little or no cost, in partnership with local churches has been told worldwide.

Behind every ministry story are people like Howard, volunteering time and energy for the sheer joy of serving others. She briefly described her tasks for the bimonthly free service; what has her focus are the people she serves.

She coordinates Friday evening dinners for clients that fellow members Dolores Meyer, Lula Boyland and Ralph White prepare, and serves as receptionist at Popkow’s clinic from 4 to 6 p.m., giving newcomers the necessary forms to complete. People primarily learn about the program from the website, www.tattooremoval.org; one couple came from Antelope Valley by motorcycle, despite the woman’s pregnancy.

At 6 p.m., Howard drives to her nearby church, checks on setup for the meal, then she and her team eat and fellowship with clients. If needed, Howard joins with the praise team for the meeting. “God is in control of all this," she said. "I just go along with His flow!”

After eating, Lois mans a table offering literature and hands out sermon outlines and community service forms on which clients record the 10 hours of community service volunteer work that the church requests.

"The Culver City church hosts this ministry because it is our most effective way to reach people with real problems and offer both physical and spiritual solutions," Pastor Jan Kaatz said. "My program co-leader Lois and a core group of members truly see this as evangelism and are very excited to be involved. Sometimes it is a challenge to see if we are really helping in a spiritual way; then a client tells me before treatment how God has worked a miracle in their lives. At our February program, three men accepted Jesus during a call."

Recently, a client e-mailed, “Your prayers are always so powerful, so I’d like to ask for your prayers. My boyfriend’s mother and grandmother are both sick; they have been for a while now. I, of course, have prayed for them already, but I know if you pray also that my prayers will be answered.”

“The ministry has been a reality check," Howard noted. "If we saw clients on the street with their multiple piercings, we might hesitate to speak with them, but I have enjoyed talking with them. Christ brought us into this world just to serve.”