Methodist Build Dedicates Latest Home

By Peggy Hampton, Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area



Photo right: David Coon (left) and Ric Stanfield of Madison UMC complete work on the exterior of the home.
 
Photo below right: Homeowner Shirley Williams is immediately right of the sign with representatives of several of the churches, her family members and friends, plus several HFHMCA board members and staff.
 
On Thursday, December 18, the dedication of the latest Methodist Build (which was a rehab project) for Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area (HFHMCA) took place. The participating United Methodist churches were Alta Woods, Anderson, Christ, Galloway, Madison, McLaurin Heights, St. Luke's and St. Mark's.  
 
The new homeowner is Shirley Williams and her son Omari. They have been living in a Jackson apartment complex plagued with break-ins and numerous maintenance issues. According to Williams, at one point, the hot water heater in the apartment burst, and it took weeks for the repairs to be made. 

 
Thanks to the Methodist Build church donors and volunteers, Williams and her son will be spending their first Christmas in a safe and decent Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area home, with an affordable mortgage. This is happening because Methodist Build partner churches believe that everyone, everywhere should have a healthy, affordable, decent place to live.
 
In this holiday season of giving, Shirley reminds every one of the source of all good things by sharing Joshua 24:15 -- which she inscribed on the bottom layer of flooring in every room of her new Habitat home: "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
 
The first HFHMCA house built by a Methodist church was built by Galloway in 1990 -- it was the twelfth home.
 
Between 1990 and 2009, several Methodist churches, including Galloway, Christ and Wells, built houses individually, or in partnership with others in the community.
 
In 2009, Methodist churches in the metro Jackson area joined together to form the Methodist Build partnership and have sponsored six houses that they have either built or rehabbed.  
 
The participating churches have already begun plans for 2015 and are seeking to expand the partnership so that they can build a new house and work with more Methodists in the Mississippi capital area.