When Habitat for Humanity asked Brent Shaw to serve on its church relations committee, a chain of events began that led to a family receiving the help of all 59 Baldwin Baptist Association churches — and ultimately a much-needed new home.
Baptist Habitat Build, as the project was dubbed, was the association’s first building partnership with Habitat.
Habitat, an international nonprofit and ecumenical Christian housing ministry, reaches out to local churches in its aim to build affordable homes for families across the world and nation, including throughout Alabama.
This year, 15 of those homes have been in Baldwin County.
“It’s good to help someone who wants to help themselves and to do that in the name of Christ,” said Shaw, minister of education and administration at First Baptist Church, Fairhope.
When Baldwin Association was asked to join Habitat in a building mission, the request was brought before the association’s annual meeting late last year, and every member church supported the effort.
“We would be able to accomplish a task with all the cooperation of the churches that one church could not go at alone,” said Rick Barnhart, director of missions for Baldwin Association.
Latedra Bingham and her three children were chosen to partner with Baptist Habitat Build after the lengthy selection process that begins with providing financial information and includes home visits to determine ability to pay.
“Latedra was extra sharp with [her application process],” said Rosemary Harris, assistant to the executive director of Habitat of Baldwin County. Because of Bingham’s attention to detail, “she moved right up with her process.”
If selected for a Habitat home, then the applicant and family put in 400 “sweat equity” hours, which include courses on taxes and management of a checking account, as well as working on construction of other Habitat homes and their own home.
Baldwin Association church members also donated their time and raised more than $20,000 toward the $72,000 home. A zero-interest mortgage for the remaining $52,000 was secured through Habitat in Bingham’s name, and the payments go toward future Habitat homes.
An estimated 70 church members volunteered at least one day each, and many worked multiple days, making the home ready for the family in June.
The 1,216-square-foot house has four bedrooms and one-and-a-half baths. Bingham won’t have to worry about a long commute, as the house is about a mile from her job.
While the project’s ultimate goal was to provide a good home for the Bingham family, the cooperative efforts of Habitat, the churches and volunteers also strengthened the community’s sense of unity.
“The build brought us together, and I am excited to see the possibility of the Baptists being involved in these in the future, as we show Christ in everything we do,” said Dennis Madden, longtime member of First Baptist Church, Silverhill. Madden dedicated 120 hours to the effort.
“It left a good, encouraging sense of family,” Barnhart added.
“That family knows that we’re here for [it].”
Share with others: