[They're] not just saying, We believe in what Jesus said, but actually picking up a hammer and putting that love into practical action.
Church representatives from four different denominations gathered to break ground on Chattanooga's first multi-faith Habitat for Humanity project.When church representatives from four different denominations gathered to break ground on Chattanooga's first multi-faith Habitat for Humanity project, Eric Light felt truly moved.
"There's so much division and hatred and ugliness in our world," said Light, director of Reach Ministries at Ooltewah United Methodist Church. "But the feeling that came over me as we stood there is: This is what's right with the world."
Over the last two months, nine churches have been pooling their money, manpower and prayers to build a new home for local single mother Shan Melvin and her 7-year-old son.
The three-bedroom home on Davenport Street will be Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area's first Faith Build. Though, as a faith-based organization, this isn't the first time Habitat has partnered with area churches, said Dominique Brandt, development director for the local chapter.
In the past, individual churches have supported Habitat's work, and one church is even in the process of building its 18th home with the organization, she said. But this is the first time local organizers have "very intentionally" assembled sponsors and volunteers from different religious backgrounds to work toward a shared goal.
Participating churches
› Christ United Methodist Church› Collegedale Community Seventh-day Adventist Church› North River Seventh-day Adventist Church› Ooltewah United Methodist Church› Ooltewah Seventh-day Adventist Church› Standifer Gap Seventh-day Adventist Church› St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church› St. Paul’s Episcopal Church› Two Rivers Church
Church representatives from four different denominations gathered to break ground on Chattanooga's first multi-faith Habitat for Humanity project."With so many houses of worship here, it just seems like a natural extension that we would be working with so many houses of faith to improve our city and the lives of the low-income residents disadvantaged by [their current housing situations]," Brandt said. "All of our faiths can come together with the understanding that we are called by God to help the less fortunate."
The group includes four Seventh-day Adventist churches, two United Methodist and two Episcopal congregations and one Evangelical Free Church of America. Seven of the nine churches are from East Hamilton County.
Part of what makes the project so unique is the accommodation made for members of different faiths, Brandt said. Since Seventh-day Adventists worship on Saturday, she explained, project coordinators restructured their construction schedule so build days could be held entirely on Sundays, as opposed to spread out across the weekend.
"Habitat has been very gracious in respecting our Sabbath beliefs," said Ian Carney, interim senior pastor at Standifer Gap Seventh-day Adventist Church. "This gives us an opportunity to actually reach out to people [and] break out of the 'Adventist bubble' that, unfortunately, we're stuck in because we're in a huge Adventist community."
Many of the churches involved with the project are part of the East Hamilton Ministerial Association, which works to rally churches around common causes through collaborative initiatives like the Faith Build. Light, who serves as president of the multi-faith association, said the build was a good fit for a number of EHMA's nearly two dozen churches because it "meets a real need for a real family" while serving as a witness for the community.
Each church has donated about $5,000 for materials to build the home. Though only 10-12 builders are allowed on the site at one time due to safety regulations, each congregation has found ways to get their entire church family involved, Brandt said.
Some church members have baked cookies and cakes or prepared lunch in advance to be delivered to volunteers on build days, and some churches have displayed information about the Melvin family on bulletin boards. Many believers, like those at Ooltewah United Methodist Church, have created designated groups to continually pray for the soon-to-be homeowners, and the youth group at Standifer Gap Seventh-day Adventist Church collected Christmas gifts to give to Melvin's son.
"It's amazing to see that these denominations are willing to come together," said Carney. "I think that really shows a lot about who Jesus was, himself."
Each church will continue the construction work on its scheduled weekend, only occasionally overlapping, but all will again be united in fellowship during the home's dedication, expected to take place after construction is complete in March.
The ceremony will mimic the groundbreaking, with scripture readings, prayers and vocalists - but it will not be the last time area believers are brought together.
Brandt said Habitat is already reaching out to other churches for its next two Faith Build projects: one in the spring and another in the fall.
"We welcome everyone and anyone," she said. "We think this is a fantastic opportunity for us all to work together."
Email Myron Madden at mmadden@timesfreepress.com.