Parishioners of Crossroads of Faith United Methodist Church were joined by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and other public officials Sunday as they devoted a portion of their service to helping spread the word about the state's organ and tissue donation program.

National Donor Sabbath is recognized as Nov. 12 -14 and observed by major religions throughout the country to call attention to the need for organ donation, according to Donate Life Illinois.

"We celebrate this weekend as National Donor Sabbath and we are happy to turn it over to our honored and special guest, Secretary White," said Senior Pastor Wesley Dickson, welcoming White to speak to the congregation.

White told the congregation that Illinois has the largest organ donation program in the United States, but more help is needed.

"Each year 300 people die when (the organs they need) aren't provided in a timely manner," said White. "One person can give the gift of life to 25 people. Many times when we think of a hero, we think of someone who rescues someone from a fire or saves them from drowning, when you can give someone a second chance in life (by becoming an organ donor), you fall into the category with those individuals."

White said he had friends and family members who had been given a second chance through organ donation and the program was "a way we can all do something good for someone each day."

He also attempted to dispel some of the rumors that sometimes prevent people from becoming organ donors.

White said it is complete myth that doctors will do less to save the life of an organ donor, seeing only the possibility for an organ harvest, that an organ will or even can be sold and that money moves richer individuals up the organ donation list.

He urged the group in the Crossroads tent to visit www.lifegoeson.org, for more information and facts on becoming an organ donor.

Also speaking for the cause was Dave Fultz, a Crossroads of Faith member and bass player in the band, who told residents his personal struggle with his health and how organ donation saved his life.

"I am not the same person I was two years ago," said Fultz. "I would do 40 or 50 hours of week, see the doctor twice a week and then come home and pass out—I didn't have the strength for anything else … I weighed 35 pounds less and my color was gray."

He became emotional when telling the group that on Sept. 22, he celebrated his one-year anniversary since he successfully received a kidney and pancreas from someone who decided to be an organ donor.

"It is truly blessing, I had my one year anniversary and couldn't feel better or more blessed," said Fultz.

At the end of this term, White will be the longest serving secretary of state in the history of the state.

Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar told his own story of becoming an organ donor, which he said was a direct result of his and White's coinciding visit to Crossroads of Faith.

"I went recently and renewed my drivers license and signed up to be an organ donor—I certainly wasn't going to come here today and show [White] my divers license without that on there," said Claar, drawing laughter from crowd.

He thanked the church for welcoming him and White, and for helping with the state's organ donation program.

For more information on becoming an organ donor in the State of Illinois, and to register your decision today, visit www.donatelifeillinois.org.