Churches come together to build homes for those in need

Though they don't often break bread together, 22 area churches are breaking ground on a construction project with Habitat for Humanity in Cape Girardeau.

The local congregations, representing 11 denominations, will build a new home for Latosha Reed and her three children at Henderson and Cousin streets. A kickoff and groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday at the work site. The real construction work will begin this coming Thursday.

Work begins within the week, though laying the foundation is often the slowest part of the project, coordinators said. The house will be the 17th built in Cape Girardeau since Habitat began here.

The "Building on Faith" project is the first of its kind for Cape Girardeau, though. The only thing comparable was about six years ago when First Baptist committed to building a house from the ground up, said Bill Cheeseman, a past president of the local Habitat board.

"We've done blitz builds before," Cheeseman said, but most house projects take much longer. This project, because it uses both financial and labor contributions from churches, should be complete in two months.

The "Building on Faith" is part of a national initiative that has typically been done in larger cities, said the Rev. Roy Jones, with Habitat. But when churches agree to work and pool their resources, "God will provide the laborers and finances."

Already $35,000 has been committed to the project. Centenary United Methodist Church was one of the congregations that devoted its time and money to the project.

Working with Habitat is a way for church members to help the community while staying close to home, said the Rev. Dr. Clayton Smith, Centenary's pastor.

Within the last few years, church mission teams have traveled to Nicaragua to build houses there and now they can build one in Cape Girardeau, he said.

"It makes you appreciate what can happen when many people work toward a common goal," Smith said. There isn't a financial burden on one church nor a need for one congregation to supply all the labor.

There aren't any limits on how churches can offer their help for the project, Jones said. No matter what kind of contribution they make, the congregations will be recognized for the effort.

Some churches with small memberships are sending volunteers to work, others are offering refreshments and drinks to laborers at the construction site.

Cape Girardeau area churches have always been strong contributors to the local Habitat for Humanity chapter, said Cheeseman.

Smith said his congregation missed an opportunity years ago to help build a home with Habitat and regretted it, so members were excited about this project.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126