When the call went out from Disciples Volunteers in Mission’s Josh Baird for folks to participate in a unique mission trip to complete the construction of the Real Faith Christian Church building in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the Mission Team of Central Christian Church, Newark, OH was ready.
Locally, this team builds ramps year-round, but at least once a year they take their mission on the road. Generally connecting with Baird’s Volunteers in Mission, Newark’s team had participated in eight mission trips prior to the Real Faith project, cleaning up and rebuilding hurricane or tornado-ravaged communities.
Need help with your church building following a natural disaster such as a tornado, hurricane or fire? Contact our disaster response team today.
Rick Hayden was one of the volunteers from Newark Central who heeded the call to assist Real Faith in completing their new building, which had stood unusable for years as circumstances beyond the congregation’s control stalled the project as well as the congregation.
What Hayden and the others from Central Christian Church – Newark found upon arriving in Clarksdale was a “dynamic preacher and committed membership” in a “community with real needs,” according to Hayden.
The team spent a week in September 2014 and returned for another week in March 2015, performing demolition, framing, drywalling, electrical, flooring, painting, staining, finish carpentry, insulation and many other tasks.
Hayden says it was an excellent experience and that on-site volunteer coordinators Mike and Julie Robinson were a great asset.
In this unusual mission trip, Hayden discovered that
“this type of need–financial and emotional recovery—is equally important to storm recovery.”
The mission trip to Real Faith Christian Church was a chance to bring hope to the community. The Good News of volunteering and service was alive in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
For more of Disciples Church Extension Fund’s stories on Real Faith Christian Church, visit our blog at https://www.disciplescef.org/blog/.