Johns Creek Baptist volunteers return to Fitzgerald to put faith into action
Johns Creek Baptist volunteers return to Fitzgerald to put faith into action
FITZGERALD, Georgia — The Millard Fuller Legacy Build came to this quintessential small Southern town last year for the first time with strong support from Together for Hope and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia.
That three-week effort was the Fitzgerald Fuller Center for Housing’s first as a Fuller Center covenant partner and breathed new life into local affordable housing efforts as the entire community embraced the project. Today, a beautiful new home on Main Street stands as a testimony to the power of God’s love and what can happen when people put faith into action.
The build also brought dozens of volunteers from out of town to Fitzgerald, including one of the largest teams from Johns Creek Baptist Church of Alpharetta, Georgia. They found the experience so rewarding that they’ve returned again.
Another team of Johns Creek Baptist volunteers has spent this week working during the second week of Fitzgerald’s second Legacy Build — a project that is well ahead of schedule thanks in large part to their efforts alongside the Spivey family and other volunteers.
“We did this last year, and it was just a lot of fun and very rewarding,” said returning Johns Creek Baptist volunteer Debbie Warren. “We’re retired, but we like to do projects and stay busy. And clearly it’s an important focus of our church.”
Putting faith into action outside the walls of Johns Creek Baptist is nothing new for its congregants. Recent projects have included helping Helene victims in North Carolina, repairing homes in Puerto Rico, feeding migrant workers in Florida and assisting elderly homeowners.
“We experience the camaraderie with others who are doing the same thing, and it’s just been immensely wonderful for my faith,” Tanya Nystrom said. “It’s just so rewarding, and we all work together.”
While some pastors may have to encourage congregants to “be” the church beyond sanctuary walls, Nystrom said that has never been a problem at Johns Creek Baptist.
“I don’t think our preacher has to preach it and say it’s got to be done,” she said. “I think it’s in your heart, and you want to do it.”
Asked what he gets out of a faith-in-action experience like the Legacy Build, Tanya’s husband Bill Nystrom offered a simple answer.
“Sore muscles and a very rewarding present to the people who are inheriting this house,” he said. “Being able to do something like this for a family is so rewarding. And we get to get out of the Atlanta area and help somebody we wouldn’t normally be able to help.”
Debbie’s husband, Bill Warren, is also on his second Legacy Build in Fitzgerald and is already looking forward to returning to Puerto Rico to help families replace roofs there.
“We get a lot of fun out of it, learn a lot of skills, meet a lot of good people and help somebody in the process,” he said.
Eagle Scout William Skidmore is the youngest member of this year’s Johns Creek group.
“Doing this kind of work combines my two greatest loves — helping people and making things,” he said. “I get the satisfaction of a job well done and the satisfaction of knowing I’ve helped someone.”
The public is invited to the home dedication at 402 West Orange Street in Fitzgerald on Saturday, March 21, at 10 a.m. EDT.
One Comment
Good works! My one of my sister -in -laws is buried there. The head football coach at Fritzgerald high school is a cousin of mine. He is from North Georgia, family from Gilmer Co Ga.