World Changers impact Alabama

World Changers projects once again captured the attention of Alabama Baptists during the summer.
   
In Birmingham, students from across the nation renovated 70 houses July 19–23, representing the organization’s largest project of the year.
   
The 800 volunteers helped the elderly and low-income families.
   
Birmingham Baptist Association managed the logistics of housing and feeding the work crews.
   
Nearly 50 Birmingham-area churches provided food and transportation for the groups, and about 60 local volunteers prepared lunches for the crews.
   
Other cities around the state also hosted World Changers groups.
   
Jim Johnston of LifeWay Christian Resources described his week working with World Changers in the Anniston area.
   
On a warm Sunday afternoon in July after a great time of food and fellowship at Antioch Baptist Church in Oxford, Johnston’s crew, the Monkey Wrenches, showed up at the home of “a delightful 76-year-old lady we affectionately came to know as Mrs. Corinne.”
   
“The paint on her front porch and swing was rapidly deteriorating,” Johnston said. “Her yard and home were so overgrown with vines and underbrush that sunshine could no longer penetrate either.”
   
A few days later, thanks to the efforts of a great group of teenagers and adults the vines and underbrush were gone.
   
“In their place was a lovely front yard, clean flower beds and a host of a freshly planted flowers. Her porch and swing were freshly painted. It looked like a whole new home.”
   
“It’s so nice to see the sun,’’ Mrs. Corinne said. “It’s been a long time.”
   
Twenty-one years to be exact. That’s when Mrs Corinne lost her husband to cancer and began to lose touch with the world around her, Johnston explained.
   
But now Mrs. Corinne is back in touch with Christians in her home town. She said ladies from Antioch Baptist Church cared enough to visit her. Now, Mrs. Corinne is going back to church. (TAB)