wfn.org | Disciples volunteers take part in hurricane relief blitz

["Office of Communications"<wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>]

Date: July 21, 2000
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
E-mail: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

00a-39

	Kinston N.C. (DNS) -- Some 50 members of the Christian Church (Disciples 
of Christ) joined a hundred other volunteers July 17-21 to "blitz-build" 
two homes in eastern North Carolina. 

	Mrs. LeVaughn Stevens of Kinston had been living in a two-room 
government-issue trailer since September, when her home was ruined by 
flooding during 1999's harsh hurricane season. July 21, just five days 
after the start of construction, she was presented with a brand new home, 
decorated and furnished. 

	Disciples volunteers also worked on a Habitat for Humanity home in 
Wilson. The family who will occupy that house was also flooded out during 
the hurricane season.

	The North Carolina Housing Finance Authority provided the bulk of the 
construction funding for Stevens' home. Week of Compassion and Volunteers 
in Mission, both Disciples agencies, and the Kinston Area Relief Effort 
(KARE) also contributed to the project with cash, volunteer supply and 
coordination services. Hosanna Industries, a Pittsburgh-based construction 
ministry, coordinated and oversaw construction of the two homes. Hosanna 
and Volunteers in Mission have cooperated in three other major building 
projects. 

	The volunteers were recruited by Homeland Ministries' Volunteers in 
Mission program. The Rev. Annell George-McLawhorn, a VIM and Week of 
Compassion staff person, organized this volunteer effort. By the end of 
the summer, she will have coordinated the efforts of more than 700 
Disciples volunteers doing hurricane relief work in North Carolina. 

	Several Disciples congregations in the Kinston area supplied dinner and 
daily snacks at the construction sites. 

	The Disciples workers came from Tabernacle Christian Church, Franklin 
Ind.; Mount Healthy Christian Church, Cincinnati; Bethany Christian 
Church, Lakeland, Fla.; Central Christian Church, Quaker City, Ohio; and 
Central Christian Church, Springfield, Tenn. They were housed at 
Disciples-related Barton College, where they also took part in Homeland 
Ministries' Faithful Advocates Serving Together (FAST). FAST provides 
economic justice training along with the volunteer construction 
experience. 

	Most of the Disciples volunteers were young people. "When they're 
together all week long the spirit has just been incredible," said the Rev. 
Jayna Powell, VIM director. "They have learned new skills, made new 
friends, and strengthened their faith. And they believe in miracles! It's 
about more than building houses. It's about building community and faith 
and bringing hope. And that's really happened this week," she said. 

	Powell quoted a resident of the Wilson neighborhood as saying "thank you 
for bringing resurrection to our community."  

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