Community Restore Project

This week, I had the privilege of helping with some roof repairs as part of the Community Restore Project. This year, eight churches in the Georgetown Area, in a show of Christian unity, came together to help the poor. We cleaned up yards, cleared away brush, trimmed trees, replaced rotten siding and beams, cleared off shingles, replacing them with new ones, primed and painted, built decking and ramps, giving some of our less fortunate residents a precious gift of love and some much needed repairs.

With donations from local businesses and a grant from the city, the Community Restore Project took on 8 separate projects this year—folks who were unable to pay for repairs to their homes, but desperately needed them.

This kind of work is foundational to our faith in Jesus Christ—our faith in action. Jesus told us that it is by our love that folks will know we are followers of Christ, by our love.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” -John 15:12

“How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?” -1 John 3:17

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” -James 2:14-17

It is always a blessing to serve, and I give God thanks for allowing me to help another human being and to show the love of Christ. But even so, I count myself doubly blessed for the chance to work side by side with other brothers and sisters in Christ. 8 different churches working together in unity, different in their views on the Bible and theology, from Southern Baptist to Presbyterian to Methodist to nondenominational to UCC and Disciples, yet coming together under the banner of Jesus Christ to offer love and service to the least of these. Praise God!

Click here to visit the Community Restore Project website.

Ron Trimmer is pastor of Hope United, a new church in Georgetown, Texas. Click here to visit Hope United's website.