A Forest Hills, Pa., pastor and community organizer told Sharon and Farrell residents Sunday the best way to take advantage of President Bush's faith-based initiative is to separate the service arm of ministries from church services.

The Rev. Marcus W. Harvey came to Ruth A.M.E. Zion Church in Sharon to speak to local clergy and residents about working together to help better the community. A service with prayer and music took place before Harvey talked to the group of about 45 people.

Harvey urged clergy to work together because people will follow them. "The voice of the Lord is in the land ... You know your community. You know what's outside these doors," he said.

Legislation developed by Sens. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., is designed to fund the work of religious charities without breaching the separation of church and state.

Harvey said the best way for the community to get money is to develop non-profit corporations separate from church services.

Federal money is out there to help get programs started but groups have to know where to look for the money, Harvey said. He said that it's difficult because the federal government is going to want specific details about how the money will be used.

"They're gonna check your toenails," he quipped.

"This is a business," Harvey said. He told clergy when it comes to the business to get away from "laying of hands and speaking in tongues. You better be real. Have a plan."

Harvey said after the clergy and residents have had a few months to organize, he will return to the Shenango Valley to show local leaders how to find the money that's available to them.

The legislation -- which will provide about $12 billion over 10 years -- includes a social services grant program and new tax breaks to encourage charitable donations.

Harvey said he started out as a police officer and sheriff but eventually found a different calling. "Somehow I had to put the gun down and pick up the book (Bible)," he said.

Harvey founded a non-profit corporation called Strength, Inc., in Wilkinsburg, Pa. The corporation's primary goals are to help people and communities by empowering them to improve the quality of their lives by addressing drug and alcohol problems and community and economic development, according to a news release.

"At times life seems to be very intolerable," Harvey said as he talked about the need to feel safe on the streets. He is working with the U.S. Senate -- Democrats and Republicans alike -- to rebuild communities through social policy issues related to substance abuse, Welfare to Work, legislative issues and civil rights.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at kgarrett@sharon-herald.com