Churches show their 'Faith in Action'

Whitehouse United Methodist Church members work in a flower bed (above) and help install a wheelchair ramp (below) during Faith in Action week. The bottom photos shows a nearly completed home project. Faith in Action was the theme for the Methodist week which concluded on Saturday. Over 500 volunteers from Whitehouse, Marvin, Pollard and St. Paul's Methodist churches participated. Ten major projects and a number of smaller projects were completed during the week which will be remembered for the 100-degree days as well as the work completed.

Mission Week started in 1988 with a group of women from Marvin who wanted to give back to the community. Fifty volunteers worked on three sites that year.

St. Paul's joined in in 1992 followed by Pollard in 2004. This year Whitehouse joined the other churches.

Thirteen members of Whitehouse Methodist worked on a wheelchair ramp and flower beds for the Wallace family. Marshall Neill served as the crew chief for the site, working with the NOMADS.

Other projects included concrete work at the Wesley Foundation, enclosing a room at the East Texas Rescue Mission and five home projects. The home projects included ever ything from painting to sheet rocking to roofing and yard work.

Another major project was painting and cleaning the dental and children's clinics at St. Paul's. The clinics were scheduled to open July 1 under the direction of the St. Paul's Children's Foundation. The clinics, along with the food pantry and clothes closet, serve the community around the church.

According to Melissa Brigman, the command central coordinator, the process for selecting the clients is an ongoing job. Letters are submitted to Marvin throughout the year. Letters may come from the families requesting help or from churches or others knowing of the need.

In the spring a selection community reviews the letters and narrows the group. At that time the committee visits the sites and interviews the families to determine how best to help. Their recommendation is passed along to the project planning committee.

Over the years hundreds of projects have been completed including four new homes. One requirement is that the family must own their home.

"We don't work on rental property," said Brigman.

"We welcome anyone who would like to work, no skills required," she added. "There is something for everyone (to do)."

Other committees include the Loaves and Fishes group that prepares lunch and dinner Monday through Friday at St. Paul's. About 300 workers are fed each day.

The group is also responsible for the Friday night dinner at Pollard which serves as the kick-off for the week. At the end of the week, Marvin hosts a celebration dinner highlighted by a slide show of the week's work and completed projects.

Thursday night is also a big night as a neighborhood festival is held at St.Paul's for the community.

"Each year we feel that Mission Week has grown, we have added projects and volunteers," said Brigman. "We look forward to that trend continuing as we Methodists put our 'Faith in Action.'"