Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah, TN

This was the second trip to P.O.P. for this group of wonderful volunteers who came from Savannah, TN to serve this week. They performed many different tasks and served many people.

One of the projects they tackled was the roof of one of the houses that we began from ground up. They installed a drip edge, the fascia and began installing shingles on the roof. They did a fine job of working on the roof and it won't take long for the next group of volunteers to complete it. No one who worked on the roof was a professional, but no one could tell from the expert job that was done!

A major project that this team performed this week was the clearing of storm debris from the neighborhood around the camp which had not been completely cleaned since Katrina. The lot in front of the camp was especially loaded down with debris. Thousands upon thousands of tin cans as well as odds and ends there since the storm had to be hauled away. One was our own pump house that had floated there with the tidal surge and had to be broken apart and carried bit by bit to the trailer. They hauled 5 trailer loads of debris to the dump!!

Another project they worked on was for a neighbor to the camp. They painted his garage outside and inside and also painted some doors. The completed work will allow him to work on vehicles and equipment once again as he did before the storm. This same group also painted on another home of a local pastor in the area. They painted on the inside of the home. They did an awesome job of painting this week.

For another elderly couple they cleaned their lot and that of their son who lives next door and filled a dumpster to the rim with debris from the storm. Then they tilled an area for them to be able to plant a few vegetables. The couple were thrilled with all of the work and the yard is beautiful.

This group also cut and cleaned a few yards this week. One was for an elderly lady who was coming home from the hospital critically ill and would be under hospice care. She said when she got out of the ambulance she was so surprised to see her yard so beautiful, mowed and manicured and it was a blessing for her to see and enjoy. How wonderful to serve in this way.

This team also tackled an unusual task. The removal of a grape arbor that had been growing and entangled for about 50 years. The storm had taken it's toll on the vines and it needed to be removed. They first had to remove all of the wire and pipes that held up the grapes. Then they hooked a chain to our truck and pulled the vines up and then by hand they dug the beams out of the ground. We thank you team for this hard but necessary work.

Thank you team for coming to this area once again this year and serving the Lord with us showing this area the love of Jesus. We hope to see you again next year.

First Baptist Church Saltillo and Auburn Baptist Church

This week two churches teamed up together to come and work on a home that began a couple months ago from the slab up and the project is ongoing. One team was from Saltillo, MS and the other was from Tupelo, MS.

This group continued and finished putting up the framing for the back porch, tying it into the roof on the back of the house. They also completed work needed on the roof putting up sheathing and black felt paper. They installed the facsia board up around the roof as well.

On the interior of the home they were able to complete the framing of two tray ceilings, installed all of the windows and worked on rough-in wiring of the electrical system.

Some in the group also helped one of our elderly ladies who weathered the storm in her home do some odd jobs she couldn't handle on her own.

Thank you so much team for all you accomplished for the Lord this week!

Windham Presbyterian Church

This group of volunteers came all the way from Windham, NH to work all week and were able to bless many of us as they worked in various capacities on many homes.

Our own family holds a very special place in our hearts for the two people pictured here. And this week has been a very precious time for us in so many ways having them here. It just so happens they were part of a group from their church, who first came to help us after Katrina. Ken and Bonnie were among the first responders who came down here and helped others as well as our own family during a week of heat, stench and a mold filled environment risking their own lives gutting our home and our storage building that is now P.O.P. They also dealt with the extreme emotions our family was going through and were able to console us that week in ways that they may never understand. They are our “heroes”. Ken and Bonnie, we love you and we thank you for all you have done for our family. What a privilege it was to serve with you this week, dear friends. May God continue to bless you richly.

We were also blessed this week meeting the rest of the members of this wonderful group who ministered to us as well. Betty, Dorayne, Jo and Mary Lou we love you guys and enjoyed our time with each of you. We know we have made lifelong friends!

This week Jo used his expertise to install a wireless internet system and a TV antenna in the camp for ministry use that will both be a blessing to our camp volunteers. A laptop computer was donated to the camp as well.

One of our dreams has been to add beauty to the camp property since all of the flower gardens and plants were lost in Katrina. God used Dorayne's training and love for gardening to help with the design and layout of our spring and summer flower gardens and she and Betty also worked to spread the truck load of soil in the beds. We know it will be an awesome sight when the flowers are blooming because it is already quite beautiful!

The group also painted in one neighbors garage, moved a platform and ramp and built a handrail to make a much needed safer entryway into the home of another elderly neighbor. They also installed interior trim work and various other projects in her home. For still another elderly lady they moved a mailbox, repaired a screen door and performed other needed tasks the elderly simply cannot do for themselves. All in all we were all blessed this week by the servanthood of these wonderful people.

We would also like to once again thank the church for their financial support that was used in part to pay the debt on our shower house. What a blessing that was!

We are looking forward to working with all of you again soon!!

County Line Baptist Church

The 8 person team from Pontotoc County, MS are also not newcomers to Power of Prayer Ministries. This trip is their third and they plan on continuing to come as many times as they can as long as there is a need. Thank you gang! They continued framing, and did some roofing and sheeting on our two homes.

The home owners were very grateful for the hard work of both groups and the contribution they have made to the rebuilding of their totally devastated homes. We look forward to working with both church groups in the future. God Bless you every one!!!

Second Baptist Church

These two volunteers came from Bowling Green, MO and teamed up with a group from Randolph, MS to work on the two homes that were framed the previous week.

Our two man father and son team from Missouri did electrical work on both homes all week and also some electrical work needed on the camp. This was Chris’s (son) second trip to P.O.P. and his church, Second Baptist of Bowling Green, has committed to supporting us in our efforts here. We are grateful to them for their hard work and their continued support. Thank you! We thank you, Joe for your first visit in serving here and we hope to see you again some day. Your efforts surely were a huge blessing to those you served.

Tucker Swamp Baptist Church

This wonderful church group from Zuni, Virginia had many trials and difficulties before leaving home and many of the members who had planned to come were unable to do so. What began as a 25 person team ended as 12 coming. God had planned for them to frame two houses and we weren’t sure how that was going to be possible with such a small group of men. And the other bad news was the forecast for rain at least two of the five days they were to be here.

Why do we ever question or doubt God? He used those who came in a mighty and powerful way. It did not rain during the working hours neither of the days forecast and after splitting the team into two they were able to frame both houses! Both homeowners are praising God for sending them all the way from Virginia to do this work.

Before the week began (Left)... After the week was over (Right)!!!

God also used this team to minister by way of food this week. Three ladies worked diligently in the kitchen and they fed both families, other workers on the jobsite, our neighbors and all of our own family! We also enjoyed the fellowship of these wonderful Virginians as they ministered to us in all these ways.

Another seven person team came from Jackson, MS to join in the work efforts on Thursday. They helped frame one of the homes and helped one of our neighbors paint his garage.

We thank God for all of you and we hope to see you all again soon.

First Baptist Church Saltillo

This is the second group from First Baptist Church Saltillo, located in north Mississippi. This part of the group came on Thanksgiving day and stayed until Sunday. They continued the work installing Hardi planks on the same house that the first group had started. The family that received help from these dedicated volunteers were so grateful. They were in awe that people would sacrifice their own holiday to give to others.

We are also so grateful to ALL the volunteers who continue to come here and volunteer their time and skills in labor to help in our community. We can't say thanks enough. We also can't tell you enough how much you are still desperately needed. Please pass the word that this area still needs help. Please consider coming back and helping again. We pray the Lord's blessings on you for your dedication to His purpose and work.

First Baptist Church Saltillo

The First Baptist Church of Saltillo spent the week of Thanksgiving here volunteering their time and skills on some construction jobs. The week was split between two groups. Pictured above is the first group that arrived for the first part of the week. They started their time on a roof of a house near camp. This home has been sitting untouched for almost a year. The homeowner had just recently gotten his grant money. He was extremely happy to finally get a roof on his home.

FBC Saltillo's first group also blessed another family with their skills installing Hardi planks (siding) on a home. This family also just received their grant money and are finally able to finish up their home as well. They are hopeful to be out of their FEMA trailers and in their home for Christmas. They are so grateful to all of the volunteers who have built their home from ground up.

Oh, one of these volunteers did some electrical work on two different homes.

There are a lot of families in this same situation; waiting on grant money to rebuild their home. We are hopeful that volunteers will keep coming to help rebuild these homes, and most importantly, share the love of Jesus with those devastated by the storm.

Oak Hill Baptist Church

This weekend, November 2 - 4, 2007, a group of 28 from Oak Hill Baptist Church in Pontotoc, MS, came to host a concert starring the Fishers of Men. The concert was held on Saturday, Nov. 3rd, in the evening. This event was a community wide outreach with food and music. Oak Hill's pastor, Brother Scott Cockrell (pictured 2nd from the LEFT, standing, blue shirt), shared the gospel of Jesus Christ. There was one young person who asked Jesus into his heart to be Lord and Savior over his life. Praise the Lord!

Fishers of Men Quartet

The Oak Hill group was also able to bless an older lady in our community with some construction skills. A group of men patched her leaking roof, hung a door, and built a hand rail along the steps to her home.

County Line Baptist Church

This wonderful group of men from County Line Baptist Church made their 2nd trip to Power of Prayer Ministries to volunteer the week of October 15 - 19, 2007. Their pastor is Brother Wayne Cobb, pictured 4th. They were able to bless a family with their construction skills. They did various construction related skills including insulating, finishing the walls, electrical and even some plumbing. They also blessed another family with some electrical work on their hot water heater.

We were unable to get pictures this week due to Linda's hospitalization, but we were fortunate that a neighbor took this picture for us (thanks!).

Poplar Springs Baptist Church

This week we've had a team of 23 volunteers from Ringgold, GA down to work. They had a yard crew that helped clear a couple of lots that still had debris left from Hurricane Katrina. They also did lawn work for several people who needed work done. One team painted rooms for two different families. Another team installed Hardy Plank (siding) on two different homes. Some of the children helped pick up and crack pecans. They had food and fellowship every evening with guests from around the community and work sites they visited. One of the ladies from the group helped us get started with this blog which is what we'll be posting to instead of our old website which was giving us some problems.