Building on the Word

Inside the door frame of the unfinished house there are words written in bold black marker.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain,” it reads. The verse is from Psalm 127.

A second verse, from Job 22, is written on a supporting beam: “May He fill your house with good things.”

These are the messages Seymour Christian Church wants to impart to the family that will become the new owners of a house the church has built in the past four days.

With help from Crossroads Ministries, an organization based in Louisville, adults and youth from the congregation have gathered each night this week and built the frame of a three-bedroom house in the church parking lot.

The church is donating the house to Jackson County Habitat for Humanity.

On Wednesday night, they completed that work. Standing around the house, members held hands and prayed, asking God to bless the house and fill it with His love.

Pastor Bill Lockman said the idea for the project started with his wife, Love.

“She had went to a conference and came back inspired to do it,” he said. “She was so excited and she passed that enthusiasm on to the rest of us.”

“I think at first, we all thought how can this be done,” Love added.

Rob Minton, director of Crossroads, had the answer.

“He had attended our church when we were down in Tennessee and I happened to see him at a convention,” she said. “He told me about what his ministry did, and I just thought it sounded like a great thing for us to do here.”

Love described Minton’s work as “bringing a mission trip to you.”

“There are a lot of church members who can’t take the time off or raise the money to go on a mission trip, so this gives them an opportunity to have that experience,” she said.

More than 100 church members helped build the house this week.

Minton said “short-term” missions are a perfect way to get more church members involved.

“We focus on two things, construction and outreach,” he said. “That way we can use all skills, so anyone can help.”

Even the youngest church members were taking part in the project Wednesday, by writing inspirational words and drawing pictures on the interior walls.

“We decided to do it during vacation Bible school so the kids could be a part of it,” Love said. “It’s been great to see the kids leaving their mark of love on the house.”

Five-year-old Lilly Wilson and 6-year-old Michael Burke made sure to leave messages for the new homeowners.

“I drew a picture of me smiling because I like the house,” she said. “And I wrote my name so they would know it was me.”

Burke also signed his name and wrote a Bible verse.

“Psalms 86:8,” he wrote in bright purple marker.

“I like that one because it’s about God,” he said.

Chrystal Denney and Joel O’Neal were more than happy to roll up their sleeves and help.

“I think it’s great because there’s not a lot for parents to do during VBS, and this gives us something to do while the kids have fun,” O’Neal said.

“It’s nice to be able to help somebody,” Denney said of why she volunteered. “And to actually build a house, it’s pretty amazing.”

O’Neal said he felt moved by God’s work to participate.

“I feel like Jesus gave so much to the world,” he said. “This is just a little something we can do to help.”

The house was moved Wednesday free of charge by Hercamp Crane to its permanent location near Shields Park. It will be finished later. Materials were donated at cost value by Goecker Construction in Seymour.

The family that will receive the house has not yet been made public.

“We were thrilled to find out it was going to go to a family right here in Seymour,” Love said.