Gulf Coast Baptist Rebuilds

Gulf Coast Baptist Association is overseeing reconstruction and rebuilding efforts in Harrison and Hancock Counties. Our goal is to build 30+ new homes as well as continuing work on damaged homes. As of January 1, we’ve been identifying those people who need total rebuilds. Some of these people have funds and/or materials to help with their home, but others have no funds at all. The Mississippi Baptist Convention has given some funds to help with the rebuilds, but it isn’t enough to finish all the homes. We still need donations from churches and interested groups to make this happen. And we desperately need skilled and semi-skilled workers, along with unskilled, to do anything pertaining to building/repairing a home. Service opportunities would include: volunteering for a few days or more; adopting a home (your group would need to come on a weekly/bi-weekly basis); adopting a home in conjunction with other groups, coming on a monthly basis. We will assist you in meeting your housing needs and assign you places to work.

What does our work look like?

This is a new construction project for a family of 4 who lost their home in Katrina. They had some insurance coverage, but not enough to rebuild. The homeowners purchased the materials and a group of skilled youth and adults from Lloyd, Florida helped with the framing of the house. The header over the front door reads, “The House that God Built.” This team spent months training their youth in construction basics and brought skilled leaders to supervise them. The youth had a wonderful experience and they blessed the family with Christian love, hope and the ability to accomplish their rebuild.

An elderly lady lost her house in Katrina. Because of her health she was not able to continue living alone; FEMA put her trailer in her daughter’s back yard. The daughter and son-in-law made the decision to care for her at home, but had no appropriate living space for her. The family took their savings and matched it with Mississippi Baptist Disaster Relief funds to add a bedroom on their house. A group composed mostly of retired men from Oxford, Mississippi fell in love with the family and adopted their project. They returned to the Coast numerous times to complete the work and get “Mother” moved in. The love of Christ was “shed abroad” in the hearts of this family. A gift that will never be forgotten – given “…unto the least of these my brethren…”

Sometimes, all that is left by Katrina is the shell of a house. This older, disabled couple “rode out” the hurricane in their house. All but one corner of their roof was torn off; they huddled in that corner through the storm and for the next several weeks until their FEMA trailer was delivered. They had no insurance and did not qualify for any loans. North Carolina Baptists and Mississippi Baptists worked on this house through completion. The couple is happily living in their new home and praising God daily for His provision for them.

The work on their house included a new roof, gutting of the whole interior, replacement of the entire electrical system, new insulation, new sheetrock, new light fixtures, new kitchen cabinets and appliances, and new furniture. God makes all things new in many ways.

There have been many senior citizens affected by Katrina. This sweet, 92 year old lady did not have any structural damage to her house, but water had soaked the floor and her floor tiles were coming up. She hesitantly called because as she said, “So many people have so much more damage than I have. But I keep tripping on the loose tiles and I’m afraid I am going to fall and hurt myself.” A team went to her house, removed the old flooring and replaced it with new floor tiles. And they painted the room while they were there, and they replaced some of the base boards, and they did a little work outside on her screened porch. Love never fails and keeps giving and giving even beyond what we ask for or can think of.

God’s love is what motivates all the work done here on the Coast! God’s people are the feet, hands, carpenters, painters, cleaners, sheet rockers, insulators, hand-holders, doers of His Word and work!