April 5, 1999
By United Methodist News Service
Contact: Linda Bloom· (212) 870-3803· New York
NOTE: This story accompanies Pastors of Burned Churches Find Support.
Through United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, more than 1,500 individuals have provided their labors of love as an antidote to the hateful crime of church burning.
Since September 1996, the Southeastern Jurisdiction volunteer office has placed more than 100 teams at a variety of rebuilding sites. Working at their own expense, some of the teams have made "sizable donations" toward the cost of materials, according to coordinator Joe Hamilton. A single gift of $10,000, for example, came from First United Methodist Church in Roswell, Ga.
In addition to his United Methodist connections, Hamilton works with other denominational groups and the National Council of Churches Burned Churches Project to send teams where they are needed.
New friendships have been constructed along with the buildings. "People really make a connection with what's happening and with the people involved," Hamilton said.
Members of Gay's Hill Baptist Church in Millen, Ga., for example, have continued to develop a relationship with two United Methodist congregations in nearby Statesboro even after the dedication of their new sanctuary in July 1997.
A current project attracting United Methodist volunteers is the rebuilding of Apostle Faith Church of Jesus, an African-American church in Indiantown, Fla. George Bozone of First United Methodist Church in Stuart, Fla., is providing local coordination. "That section of Florida is probably the forgotten stepchild of Florida, economically," Hamilton said.
Drawing ecumenical support is the rebuilding of the Avenue M Church of God in Christ in Birmingham, Ala., which has received a $20,000 grant from the United Methodist North Alabama Annual (regional) Conference.
Hamilton also hopes construction can begin soon on New Salem United Methodist Church in Georgia and Solid Rock Baptist Church in Miami. Because of the red tape involved with a loan from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, "they (Solid Rock Baptist) have been on hold for almost four years," he said.
For information on volunteering, call the Southeastern Jurisdiction Office at (404) 659-5060 or send an e-mail to sejumvim@compuserve.com.
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New York, and Washington.
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