If they had a hammer – wait, they do
Posted on Saturday, May 3, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Religion/224629/
There’s a new house rising in downtown Little Rock.
It’s a one-story, three-bedroom, two-bath dwelling, and it takes up 17 parking spaces at Second Baptist Church.
Lots of churches help Habitat for Humanity. Few of them build an entire house in their parking lot.
“It’s a real proud feeling,” said Minister of Mission and Outreach Chris Ellis, one of about 150 Baptists who have pounded nails, stapled tar paper or lugged plywood — among other tasks. “It’s very inspiring to see all of these people giving of themselves in order to make life better for somebody else.”
Since it was launched the day before Easter, church members have worked every Saturday on the project. They’ve also raised $ 53, 000 to help pay for the building. They need $ 12, 000 more.
Later this month, they’ll watch as the 1, 240-square-foot house is moved to its permanent location — 3908 Longcoy St. in west Little Rock.
Shannon Adams, a 21-yearold single mother, who was selected by Habitat, will be the owner.
Pastor Matt Cook says his church wanted to make a lasting contribution to a Little Rock family.
“This is something we can do that will have a lifelong impact,” he said. “We’re not just about getting people into a sanctuary on Sunday morning.... We’re about making the world look like what it’s supposed to look like.”
The project is attracting volunteers from all walks of life. Strangers stop by to donate money or to wield a hammer.
“Thirty percent of the people that have helped us build the house have zero connection to our church whatsoever,” Cook said.
“There’s a hunger, there’s a desire to make a difference in the world,” he said. “We want to give people that opportunity.”
The congregation hopes to finish the parking-lot portion of the work May 10.
A church celebration is planned for the next day — Mother’s Day.
That evening, Second Baptist is holding a benefit concert featuring the award-winning Southern gospel group Legacy Five. Proceeds from the concert will help pay for the construction costs.
Once the work is finished, a mover will place jacks under the house, elevate it, hook it up to a big diesel truck and drive it about eight miles southwest.
“It’s kind of fun to see it coming down the street,” said Pulaski County Habitat for Humanity executive director Bill Plunkett.
For an experienced mover, it’s not a time-consuming process.
“If he starts it by 8 o’clock in the morning, he’ll be done with it before noon,” Plunkett said.
Adams will pay $ 65, 000 — at most — for the home, and she’ll be given a no-interest loan, Plunkett said.
Adams’ monthly mortgage, tax and insurance payments will be between $ 300 and $ 400.
Not a bad deal, Plunkett says. “You can’t rent a house trailer for that — not that there’s anything wrong with a house trailer.”
Stasia Burk, a member of the church’s missions committee, says building a home is “not an overwhelming project.”
“We’ve all pitched in. And it’s a lot more manageable — everybody working as a team,” she said.
Each trip to the parking lot brings an adrenaline rush.
“Oh it’s exciting,” she said. “We started with just cinder blocks and a platform and now there’s a whole house there. It just seemed to go up so fast.”
Adams, who is raising a 16-month-old son and a 1-monthold daughter and hopes to become a teacher, said she’s surprised by the church’s generosity.
“Oh my goodness, yes.... I’m just so excited,” she said. “I just feel very, very blessed.” Second Baptist Church, 222 E. Eighth St., will hold its benefit concert May 11 at 6 p. m. Tickets cost $ 15. For more information, go to www. ahomeformothersday. com or call (501 ) 374-9284.