Men from the Brotherhood ministry at Immanuel Baptist Church have replaced rotten porch beams for Lori Colf, a widowed church member.
The project was one of many that the ministry undertakes regularly.
“Sometimes we go a whole month without a job, and sometimes ... we can’t do everything that needs to be done,” said Tommy McCrory, who directs the ministry and plans the projects.
Colf, who lives at 509 W. Jeff Davis Ave., had requested quotes from two contractors, but neither responded, she said.
“Someone told me to ask the men at the church, so I talked to one the other day, and they came together last night,” she said Friday. Five men completed the replacement of her porch beams, which had sustained water damage, within two hours, she said.
Sometimes the men’s ministry completes a week’s worth of work in one afternoon, McCrory said.
“You can tell people you love them all you want, but they’re not going to believe it until you show them,” he said.
The group has managed projects from fixing plumbing leaks to installing wheelchair ramps, which McCrory said makes up about 75% of the work.
Just last week, the group built and installed a wheelchair ramp for a man who is scheduled to have hip surgery next week, Steve McCrimmon said.
McCrimmon is one of the eight to 10 men serving faithfully within the Brotherhood ministry.
“A lot of these folks we do work for are not even church members,” McCrory said. “They’re folks people have told us about, and if we can do what they need, we’ll do it.”
Sometimes, those needing the construction work are able to pay, but McCrory said the group does not accept any payment for its services, just for the materials.
“Sometimes people will make donations to the ministry,” he added, but those donations go back into funds for other construction projects for which people may not be able to purchase materials.
McCrory said the ministry is looking to increase the number of men who faithfully serve. “We are starting to have more young men get interested,” he said.
All men have a place in the ministry; even elderly men — who might only be able to come sit and speak to the families being helped — are welcome.
“We used to have men who would come in and talk to the folks all day long, to let them know we love them and God has put us here to help them,” he said.
McCrory said the men who complete projects have the knowledge, even if they’re not technically licensed to do the work. “I said, ‘God has given us the ability to do this kind of stuff,’ and I just wish we could do it more,” he explained.
He hopes that the work the ministry team does allows those they’re helping to pass on the blessing to someone else.
“Someday you will be able to help others,” he said. “We’re just offering a hand up.”
- Contact Katherine Parker at 662-581-7239 or kparker@gwcommonwealth.com.
