wfn.org | U.S. Students to Help Rebuild Burned Churches

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the 
U.S.A.
Contact: Wendy McDowell, NCC, 212-870-2227
Internet: c/o carolf@ncccusa.org

NCC2/7/97                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS TO HELP REBUILD BURNED CHURCHES
DURING THEIR SPRING BREAKS IN NCC-SPONSORED PROGRAM

 NEW YORK, Feb. 7 ---- While many college 
students will be celebrating their spring breaks 
basking on Southeast beaches, nearly 500 will be 
taking up hammers and saws in a National Council of 
Churches-sponsored program to help rebuild four 
Southeast churches destroyed by hate.

 The NCC Church Rebuilding Project is working 
with Christmas in April*USA  to organize "Spring 
Rebuild!"  The first team will go out February 15; 
most will be deployed in March and April.

 The program will bring more than 25 groups of 
high school and college students to work camps at 
four sites (two in Fla., one in Va. and one in 
Tenn.) for a week at a time.  The students, who come 
from many backgrounds, races and religions, will 
live and work in community and explore some of the 
issues surrounding the burned churches.

 "This is an opportunity to help for people who 
have been touched by the pain of those who lost 
their churches to arson," said Sarajane Johnson, 
Director of Work Camps for Christmas in April*USA.  
Ms. Johnson said the work camps also provide an 
opportunity to build community, both among the work 
campers and with the congregations.  "We hope this 
program will help congregations heal," she said.

Ms. Johnson said that the response has been 
overwhelming.  "More than 60 groups of high school 
and college students from around the country have 
inquired about "Spring Rebuild!" and more 
organizations call every day," she said.  "So many 
people in this country want to give and to help."  
So far, 26 groups of 15 people each have been 
scheduled for work camps, but Ms. Johnson expects at 
least a few more groups to sign up for the Spring 
program.

She explained that the Christmas in April*USA 
work camp model provides structure and activities 
which help to foster togetherness.  "It is amazing 
how strong a community can be built in that amount 
of time with people living and working together on a 
common goal," Ms. Johnson said.  Additionally, 
volunteers have meals together and with the 
congregation and are encouraged to attend worship 
services.

 The sites were chosen because "the pastors and 
congregations have expressed a willingness to have 
students come.  The congregations actually see it as 
a broadening of their ministry," said Sara Coppler, 
Director of the Church Rebuilding Project in 
Murfreesboro, Tenn., which provides volunteers to 
all sites where churches are being rebuilt with NCC 
funds.  Added Ms. Johnson, "The congregations are so 
warm and so welcoming and go out of their way to 
make the volunteers feel part of their family."

The sites are:

  Faith Christian Community Center, 
Tallahassee, Fla., burned May 7, 1995, 
immediately after a major interior renovation 
had been completed.  This strong congregation 
is active in the Tallahassee African-American 
community.  Programs include computer training, 
day care and after-school care, and an active 
music program.  Because the land on which the 
original church stood is not appropriate for 
rebuilding, the congregation is purchasing an 
existing church in the same neighborhood.  
Volunteers will rehabilitate that building.
  Salem AME Church, Greensboro, Fla., burned 
June 3, 1995.  The fire has been ruled 
suspicious.  The congregation is mainly older 
members whose families have belonged to the 
church for generations.  They are well 
organized and have worked hard to get the 
burned-out remains removed and the site cleared 
for rebuilding.  The church has a complete set 
of plans and is ready to proceed as soon as a 
contractor is identified.  Volunteers will help 
rebuild this church from scratch.
  Greater Mt. Zion Tabernacle Church of God in 
Christ, Portsmouth, Va.  The 102-year-old 
wooden church burned in June 1995.  The fire 
was ruled arson.  The minister, Elder Charlie 
Hicks, stepped out on his faith and with very 
little money had the foundation poured, rough-
in plumbing completed and electrical power 
brought to the site so he could keep his 
congregation together.  The church is expanding 
the size of its sanctuary to seat approximately 
250.  Both the on-site coordinator and general 
contractor are members of the church.
  God's Chapel, Athens, Tenn.  This Pentecostal 
church was burned on June 27, 1996, and 
investigations have revealed racial motivation 
behind the arson.  This small congregation of 
60 is racially mixed, although predominately 
white.  The new log structure is being built on 
a beautiful site in the mountains.

 Ms. Coppler said that although the "Spring 
Rebuild!" program focuses exclusively on students, 
she has placed volunteers of all ages on sites.  
Late spring and early summer work camps may even 
specifically encourage intergenerational contact.

 Ms. Coppler said a large number of burned 
churches are rebuilding this spring.  "By summer, we 
should have an enormous sense of completion," she 
said.  Ms. Coppler and Ms. Johnson said they are 
still looking for volunteers who can work in the 
late spring and into the summer.

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