3 minute read
HOME OF HOPE
McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church’s mission is “Changing Lives That Change the World.” The church is carrying out its mission in a number of ways, including a recent project to build a home in partnership with Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity.
“We try to reflect our mission in everything we do,” shared Kristen Howard, the church’s director of communications. “This project is a great example of living up to that mission - changing individual lives as it causes that ripple effect.”
Scott Meier, the church’s director of missions and community outreach, is coordinating the build.
“One of the things we are creating is a close relationship with Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity,” Meier said. “We wanted to make sure the home was done with someone with experience and done with a structure and organization that is bigger than us.”
Habitat for Humanity President and CEO Randy Gardner and his father-in-law Bob Warner, who are both members of the church, have worked to make the connection seamless since this is the first time McFarlin has undertaken a project of this magnitude with Habitat for Humanity.
But this is not the first construction project for the church.
Volunteer builders at McFarlin have plenty of experience building homes. They have made it their yearly mission to travel to the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas for the past six years and build homes for families in need. The pandemic halted their trip this year, so the church decided to use it as an opportunity to help locally.
“The church was looking for a way to continue their mission and we wanted to get another project going in Noble,” Gardner said.
The house being built in Noble will be about 1100 square feet with three bedrooms, a perfect fit for a small family of 3-4 people. The application period for homeownership recently closed and Habitat’s family selection committee, comprised completely of community volunteers, is fully engaged in selecting the homeowner.
Although Habitat for Humanity has several home designs available, the church’s past experiences enabled them to merge one of Habitat’s designs with the design they’ve previously used in Texas, with a few modifications. Volunteers include McFarlin church members, Noble United Methodist Church members, as well as a few people that have worked with them on other service opportunities. The group is well versed in construction projects of this kind.
“One of the things McFarlin is striving to be is a missional church and we really want to engage our members to be in
service in the community and ultimately around the world,” shared Meier.
The church focuses on honing in on gaps in the community.
“There are lots of organizations doing amazing things and we want to help support them and help them,” said Meier. “It makes more sense for us to do that than to reinvent the wheel.”
Despite delays due to a number of causes, such as weather interferences and supply shortages, things are moving at an efficient pace. The build began in late April and should be complete by mid-September.
“It’s exciting to see a convergence of things opening up and we’re also rolling on the house, which is exciting. As a person of faith, I think it’s a God thing,” Meier said.
What can the community do to help?
Meier and Howard suggest Normanites connect with Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity directly to either give financially or to donate needed items. Habitat for Humanity is also building a home on Iowa Street in Norman and is in need of volunteers, too.
“Financial support is certainly the biggest piece,” Gardner shared. “But any talents or resources, whether that’s volunteering or donating new appliances, building material or meals for the volunteers, anything like that, really helps. The other thing people can do is to spread the word that Habitat is building homes.”
“Like and follow us on social media and stay involved.” Visit cchfh.org to learn more.
You can also check out McFarlin’s website at mcfarlinumc.org/habitathouse/ to see their Habitat home’s progress and find a registry of needed items for the house as well as sign up to volunteer. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, you may also call Meier at 405-321-3484. – BSM
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