BUMC and Habitat for Humanity: From prayer to reality in 137 days
By SANDRA STONE “It’s not very often you literally get to see the answers to prayer come up before your very eyes,” said Rev. Willard Knipp, pastor of Brandenburg United Methodist Church at the dedication of Meade County Habitat for Humanity’s ninth home, but it happened, and it happened in 137 days. “When you see something so obvious as a home coming up from a patch of ground, it’s answered prayer.” The journey to this day began when members of Brandenburg United Methodist Church decided to partner with Meade County Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a family in need. On Aug. 2, they signed the agreement between the two entities, and on that same night, announced that JoAnn Miller and her granddaughters, Angelika and Brianna, were the family chosen. “This board planted a seed in this community a long time ago,” said Habitat board president Mark Jones. “God sent a ray of light to help that seed grow.” That ray of light was Brandenburg United Methodist Church, Jones continued. “The way this church took on this project, I’ll be forever, eternally grateful. It’s been a wonderful experience, and I thank God for Brandenburg United Methodist Church and the Habitat board.” “I learned three things from a personal standpoint,” said Leona Cannady, who said she had been blessed with the job of being the BUMC Habitat team leader. First was the friendship. “It’s one thing to shake hands on Sunday morning, but when you get down and dirty week after week, you really get to know each other,” she said. “We’ll never forget working with these people.”
" “The second thing that has touched my life more than anything is this lady,” she said, looking to JoAnn Miller. “God’s plan was to bring a beautiful person into our lives and touch my life personally, and I will never be the same. JoAnn has faith I’ve been taught about all my life, and she lives that faith,” continued Cannady. “Every day she was ecstatic, and grateful and totally blessed. Just a half-hour ago, she said to me, ‘This house and this yard is a field of prayer.’ And it is.” The third, concluded Cannady, was the importance of being involved in a ministry bigger than yourself, bigger than anything you’ve ever imagined. With that will come blessings bigger than you ever imagined, as well. Linda Wood, Miller’s nurturer through this process, shared how much Miller had come to mean to her, saying that Miller had often kept her going with her spirit and enthusiasm. “I’ve always likened my church family to a warm blanket against the cold,” said Wood. And with that thought, she presented on behalf of the church, three handmade quilts and three afghans to keep JoAnn and her family warm. And then it was Miller’s turn to speak. “I just want to give glory to God,” she said, struggling to speak through joyful tears. “His hand has been in this from day one, since I put my name on the application. “The Methodist Church – wow!” she continued. “You guys are great. I want to thank you for the generosity, the support, your labor, your time. Leona and Jeff (Cannady) – you guys are awesome.” She called Leona “the steamroller,” which was an accurate reflection of the singlemindedness with which she set out to get this mission accomplished. “Jeff, thank you for all your hard work and your patience. Doug Stone, Mike the electrician, Al Lawrence, Doug the plumber, thank you. Jessie Trotter, thank you for loving my girls.” And to everyone assembled, members of her church home, Glad Tidings Christian Center, and the extended family she now has from Brandenburg United Methodist Church, JoAnn Miller said, “Thank you so much for loving us.”
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Photo by Sandra Stone
Photo by Sandra Stone