God's Helping Hands--a new beginning
A dozen Christians from a study group are challenged to do something to make a difference in the wider community outside the resort-style neighborhoods where they live. Praying for God’s guidance and providence, they choose to do home repairs for families in need, never suspecting the extent of the scarcity right outside their gates.

Through local sources, their leaders, Gene Barton and Bob Becker, locate a home in dire need of repair, if repair is indeed possible. The owner is Eunice, a grandmother who lives with her daughter Caroline and three small grandchildren. Caroline works two jobs while Eunice cares for the children. When the hundred-year-old cinder block house is evaluated and deemed non-repairable, the outreach group finds themselves far beyond where they had planned to go. Because they have come to care about the little family, they can’t simply walk away. The only way out is to follow where the Lord leads, and they do.

As they recruit more volunteers, raise funds, contact businesses and contractors, and create a plan to help meet the family’s needs, the hand of God is evident again and again in events that exceed the level of “happy coincidence.” The members often refer to these times as “God moments,” where God has so obviously made a way for them that they are rendered humble and speechless.

They purchase a used mobile home and completely renovate, reinforce, decorate and furnish it, including new septic and well, plumbing, central heat and air conditioning, and so forth. In the meantime, they have been tutoring the children,providing financial guidance to Caroline, and making food pickups for the family at the local food pantry. Finally they dedicate the home and move Caroline’s family in.

The needs of Marcia, Caroline’s Sister, are placed on their hearts before Caroline’s dedication is over. The group returns the following season to provide for her family. So many nearby families stop and ask for help, the group, now known as “Helping Hands Outreach Ministry,” has to develop application and screening procedures. In selecting the next family, the groups gives priority to families with young children.

As part of the group’s “Pay it Forward” policy, families are asked to repay $15,000 over four years. This represents about one-third of the value of the home. These funds are used to provide homes for future Helping Hands families. To help them meet this obligation, families are required to attend a personal finance course taught by one of the local churches. A family coordinator stays in touch with each family to help them learn how to manage and maintain the household. Friendships grow between the families and the volunteers, prompting many of them to say it is like having grandchildren close by.That first family is served in 2007. By 2013, “Helping Hands” of New Covenant United Methodist Church, The Villages, FL, has rehomed 16 families. This book tells the stories of the families coping with substandard living conditions, fearful that their children will be taken away, but unable to afford anything better. Most live without hot water or reliable electricity.

When the family as a better home, they flourish. Friendships grow, people become passionate about the purpose they share, and their lives are changed. The family home projects do make a difference in the community, but the volunteers say that they themselves are blessed as thoroughly as anyone else.
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God's Helping Hands--a new beginning
A dozen Christians from a study group are challenged to do something to make a difference in the wider community outside the resort-style neighborhoods where they live. Praying for God’s guidance and providence, they choose to do home repairs for families in need, never suspecting the extent of the scarcity right outside their gates.

Through local sources, their leaders, Gene Barton and Bob Becker, locate a home in dire need of repair, if repair is indeed possible. The owner is Eunice, a grandmother who lives with her daughter Caroline and three small grandchildren. Caroline works two jobs while Eunice cares for the children. When the hundred-year-old cinder block house is evaluated and deemed non-repairable, the outreach group finds themselves far beyond where they had planned to go. Because they have come to care about the little family, they can’t simply walk away. The only way out is to follow where the Lord leads, and they do.

As they recruit more volunteers, raise funds, contact businesses and contractors, and create a plan to help meet the family’s needs, the hand of God is evident again and again in events that exceed the level of “happy coincidence.” The members often refer to these times as “God moments,” where God has so obviously made a way for them that they are rendered humble and speechless.

They purchase a used mobile home and completely renovate, reinforce, decorate and furnish it, including new septic and well, plumbing, central heat and air conditioning, and so forth. In the meantime, they have been tutoring the children,providing financial guidance to Caroline, and making food pickups for the family at the local food pantry. Finally they dedicate the home and move Caroline’s family in.

The needs of Marcia, Caroline’s Sister, are placed on their hearts before Caroline’s dedication is over. The group returns the following season to provide for her family. So many nearby families stop and ask for help, the group, now known as “Helping Hands Outreach Ministry,” has to develop application and screening procedures. In selecting the next family, the groups gives priority to families with young children.

As part of the group’s “Pay it Forward” policy, families are asked to repay $15,000 over four years. This represents about one-third of the value of the home. These funds are used to provide homes for future Helping Hands families. To help them meet this obligation, families are required to attend a personal finance course taught by one of the local churches. A family coordinator stays in touch with each family to help them learn how to manage and maintain the household. Friendships grow between the families and the volunteers, prompting many of them to say it is like having grandchildren close by.That first family is served in 2007. By 2013, “Helping Hands” of New Covenant United Methodist Church, The Villages, FL, has rehomed 16 families. This book tells the stories of the families coping with substandard living conditions, fearful that their children will be taken away, but unable to afford anything better. Most live without hot water or reliable electricity.

When the family as a better home, they flourish. Friendships grow, people become passionate about the purpose they share, and their lives are changed. The family home projects do make a difference in the community, but the volunteers say that they themselves are blessed as thoroughly as anyone else.
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God's Helping Hands--a new beginning

God's Helping Hands--a new beginning

by Jocelyn Dunstan
God's Helping Hands--a new beginning

God's Helping Hands--a new beginning

by Jocelyn Dunstan

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Overview

A dozen Christians from a study group are challenged to do something to make a difference in the wider community outside the resort-style neighborhoods where they live. Praying for God’s guidance and providence, they choose to do home repairs for families in need, never suspecting the extent of the scarcity right outside their gates.

Through local sources, their leaders, Gene Barton and Bob Becker, locate a home in dire need of repair, if repair is indeed possible. The owner is Eunice, a grandmother who lives with her daughter Caroline and three small grandchildren. Caroline works two jobs while Eunice cares for the children. When the hundred-year-old cinder block house is evaluated and deemed non-repairable, the outreach group finds themselves far beyond where they had planned to go. Because they have come to care about the little family, they can’t simply walk away. The only way out is to follow where the Lord leads, and they do.

As they recruit more volunteers, raise funds, contact businesses and contractors, and create a plan to help meet the family’s needs, the hand of God is evident again and again in events that exceed the level of “happy coincidence.” The members often refer to these times as “God moments,” where God has so obviously made a way for them that they are rendered humble and speechless.

They purchase a used mobile home and completely renovate, reinforce, decorate and furnish it, including new septic and well, plumbing, central heat and air conditioning, and so forth. In the meantime, they have been tutoring the children,providing financial guidance to Caroline, and making food pickups for the family at the local food pantry. Finally they dedicate the home and move Caroline’s family in.

The needs of Marcia, Caroline’s Sister, are placed on their hearts before Caroline’s dedication is over. The group returns the following season to provide for her family. So many nearby families stop and ask for help, the group, now known as “Helping Hands Outreach Ministry,” has to develop application and screening procedures. In selecting the next family, the groups gives priority to families with young children.

As part of the group’s “Pay it Forward” policy, families are asked to repay $15,000 over four years. This represents about one-third of the value of the home. These funds are used to provide homes for future Helping Hands families. To help them meet this obligation, families are required to attend a personal finance course taught by one of the local churches. A family coordinator stays in touch with each family to help them learn how to manage and maintain the household. Friendships grow between the families and the volunteers, prompting many of them to say it is like having grandchildren close by.That first family is served in 2007. By 2013, “Helping Hands” of New Covenant United Methodist Church, The Villages, FL, has rehomed 16 families. This book tells the stories of the families coping with substandard living conditions, fearful that their children will be taken away, but unable to afford anything better. Most live without hot water or reliable electricity.

When the family as a better home, they flourish. Friendships grow, people become passionate about the purpose they share, and their lives are changed. The family home projects do make a difference in the community, but the volunteers say that they themselves are blessed as thoroughly as anyone else.

Product Details

BN ID: 2940148659006
Publisher: Jocelyn Dunstan
Publication date: 07/28/2013
Series: God's Helping Hands , #1
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 350
File size: 4 MB
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