St. Louis Church Joins Baptist Build in Baton Rouge

On April 23, a two-week, 12-house "Baptist Build" began in several Baton Rouge, La. neighborhoods. Hundreds of Baptists united for one common cause – rebuilding the lives of Hurricane Katrina evacuees. A group of 25 people from Third Baptist Church in St. Louis was among the volunteers.

"It was hard work, and eye opening, but a rich experience of fellowship and service," said Warren Hoffman, pastor of Third Baptist. "Two of our crew have already become a part of the local Habitat St. Louis’ volunteer team."

In partnership with Habitat for Humanity, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship joined other Baptist organizations to fund the build.  Nearly 600 volunteers served.

Other organizations included American Baptist Churches USA, Baptist World Aid, Alliance of Baptists, Canadian Baptist Ministries, Progressive National Baptist Convention and the District of Columbia Baptist Convention.

"It’s a beautiful mixture of Baptists coming from all parts of the country," said Daniel Vestal, the Fellowship’s executive coordinator. "For us to work together has been a joy."

"There’s a great sense of the presence of Christ here," said Roy Medley, general secretary for ABCUSA.

For many of these families, a new house will be a conclusion to an 18-month Katrina journey that took many of them from New Orleans to Baton Rouge shelters, hotels and travel trailer parks.

"This will be a better start for me and my daughter," said New Orleans evacuee Shantrell Merrell, who has been living in a FEMA travel trailer park. "It’s a blessing from God. It’s a miracle. I’m thankful, and I’m willing to help build my house."

Fannie Munson, who is raising five of her 13 grandchildren, can’t wait to see the children’s reaction to the new house.
 
"Most of all the joy is going to be when I see the smile and joy on my grandbabies," Munson said. "The joy that I will have only God can explain it."

"The hope you see in her eyes – she is so excited and working right along with us," said Canadian Baptist Ministries volunteer Debbie Bailey, who drove 26 hours from Ontario to help with the build. "This [build] can represent hope for other people."
 
Volunteers traveled from as far as Canada and California to participate in the build. Some were veteran Habitat volunteers; others wanted to reach out to Katrina victims. But most were Baptists experiencing one of the distinctive qualities of this build – working together beyond organizational, racial and geographical boundaries.
 
"Once you put people in service together, all kinds of differences break down," said Bruce Wilson, pastor of West Main Baptist Church in Danville, Va., which sent a 10-person roofing team. "The hope of the church is in projects like these."

Hoffman hopes to involve Third Baptist in a project like this every year. In addition, Third offered hospitality for two nights to 30 Habitat Bicyclers on a nation-wide Summer Habitat Bike Tour. The riders – mostly university students – raise awareness and funds to construct more Habitat homes. They do three coast-to-coast routes and stay with churches and speak to groups about the work of Habitat.
 

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