webmaster posted on November 09, 2009 13:32
Second Baptist Church in South Hadley, MA, is used to serving as the hands and feet of Christ on mission trips both nationally and internationally, in places such as New Orleans, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. However, many members of the church were unable to participate in these trips due to the challenges of finding a week to be away from work and family responsibilities. Additionally, the church wanted to be a blessing right in its own neighborhood. With His Hands ministry was formed to address these concerns by providing labor and support to those who are experiencing hardships and financial difficulties in Massachusetts. “We are trying to be Christ’s hands, helping the needy,” said Rev. Donald Bradley, Second Baptist’s pastor.
With His Hands was created to address the needs of the elderly, the handicapped and those in financial difficulty. It offers volunteers the chance to donate half a day of work on any of 50 Saturdays per year. And it offers recipients the opportunity to “pay it forward” by sharing the work, and by assisting in the next project that the ministry takes on. If the recipient is physically unable to do the labor, they are invited to help by preparing a meal for the workers or making a craft to be sold at the ministry’s fund raiser.
Meanwhile, the neighboring town of Shutesbury was about to lose its only church. The congregation had dwindled to as few as two, and the building was deteriorating dangerously. A nearby pastor, Rev. John Blunt, began meeting with the group on Monday evenings, and the group began to slowly grow. However, the renovation of the building was far more than they could tackle. They approached Rev. Dr. James Sinclair, area minister for ABC of Massachusetts, for suggestions. He connected them with With His Hands, and the miracle was underway.
Within weeks, a group from With His Hands arrived with a structural repair crew to pour reinforced concrete pads, jack up the church, and reinforce it with custom steel pillars. Then teams of 40 to 60 volunteers began showing up every Saturday to repair, paint and renovate the building. It is hoped that work will be completed this fall.
“Every time we encounter an obstacle, God steps in to take over,” said David Tetreault, a member of the board of directors of With His Hands. “For example, we didn’t know how we were going to be able to repair the steeple because we couldn’t afford to rent a high lift boom, and then a contractor came to the church and offered to let us use his 66 foot high lift. Benjamin Moore Paint heard about us and donated a bunch of paint. The stories go on and on. For all of us involved, this has truly been a faith-strengthening venture. We have all seen how God has stepped in time and time again to ensure our success. It is clear to all that God wants to maintain a Christian witness in Shutesbury, Massachusetts.”
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26