VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 4/8/14)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) seeks volunteers to join in partnering with Great Rivers Region (GRR) of American Baptist Churches USA and Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County for a “Bringing Good News to Gifford!” Habitat Blitz Build June 1-14, 2014, in Gifford, Illinois.
Volunteers will help to construct a home for a deserving family impacted when an F-3 tornado wrought a 29-mile path of destruction in the small rural farming community in November 2013. Of the 313 homes in Gifford and surrounding area, more than 90 homes were completely destroyed, and more than 40 homes required repair ranging from minor to major.
“The Great Rivers Region is privileged to partner with American Baptist Home Mission Societies and Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County to bring a little hope and encouragement to the community of Gifford,” says Rev. Dwight Stinnett, GRR’s executive minister. “Teams from the Great Rivers Region have worked on similar projects following hurricanes in the Gulf Coast and New Jersey. This summer, we will be working much closer to home.”
The theme of the two-week effort is Romans 10:15: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Volunteers must be at least age 14. Construction skills are not required. Electricians, plumbers and carpenters are especially needed.
A $175 weekly fee includes food and housing. Volunteers are responsible for transportation to and from Gifford. Registration deadline is May 15.
Donations can be handled through your church or region, made online at https://secure-q.net/donations/ABChurches/410, or mailed to American Baptist Home Mission Societies, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482. Make the check payable to American Baptist Home Mission Societies, and write “OGHS-GRR Gifford Rebuild” on the memo line.
For more information, visit www.abhms.org > Volunteer, or contact Victoria Goff, ABHMS national coordinator of Volunteer and Disaster Response Ministries, at vgoff@abhms.org or 1-800-222-3872, x2449.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies—the domestic mission arm of American Baptist Churches USA—ministers as the caring heart and serving hands of Jesus Christ across the United States and Puerto Rico through a multitude of initiatives that focus on discipleship, community and justice.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.