Updated Thursday, April 24, 2008

Fayetteville churches repair neighborhood homes

By Steve DeVane

BR Managing Editor

FAYETTEVILLE - MaeHelen McKoy had tried to save money to make needed repairs to her home, but every time she'd have almost enough money, her car would break down or some other issue arose that needed attention worse.

Then she heard that area churches were going to be doing some work in her neighborhood. She called Sue Byrd, the executive director of the local Operation Inasmuch organization.

Churches in Fayetteville were among an estimated 900 congregations across North Carolina to take part in a statewide Operation Inasmuch community mission blitz.

Byrd came by McKoy's house to look at her needs. The house was put on the list for repairs.

"That was my blessing," McKoy said.

She sat in a chair on her front lawn, watching volunteers from Cedar Falls Baptist Church paint her house.

"I love that blue," she said.

Other volunteers replaced rotten wood, moved a washing machine into the house, replaced some Sheetrock, replaced a rusty sink and installed a handrail by the back steps.

Maurice Taylor and Dan Hignight were among the workers.

Taylor said the volunteers got to the house about 7:30 a.m.

"We're just glad we're able to do it," Hignight said.

Members of the church also cleaned up McKoy's back yard.

"I haven't seen my backyard look so good since my husband died and that was about 20 years ago," she said.

Glenn Neal, Tommy McLamb and John Crawley grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. Neal, the coordinator for the church's efforts, surveyed the results as the church's Gleaners Sunday School class served lunch to McKoy and the workers.

"It's amazing what's been done in a half day out here," he said.

Down the road, members of Lafayette Baptist Church were working on a house. Steve Branch, the church's mission pastor, said the group painted doors, replaced one door, put in stepping-stones, installed brick pavers on a patio, put up a clothes line and fixed windows.

David Crocker, head of the national Operation Inasmuch organization, was on the roof of another house in the neighborhood, helping a group from Snyder Memorial Baptist Church repair it. The group also did other work, he said.

"We had a great time," he said.

The three houses were among numerous houses being repaired in the neighborhood. Thirty churches from the Fayetteville area participated.

"Pretty much every other house you run into something is going on," Branch said.