Stokes County looked like the site of multiple “Extreme Makeover: Home Editions” in October, thanks to nine community churches who came together to “share the blessing.”

For this Mission Blitz ’08, also called “Share the Blessing,” over 400 volunteers from area churches spent an entire weekend doing repairs on homes throughout the county.

Each church worked on several projects. Some homes needed things such as new roofs, vinyl siding, kitchens, porches, or wheelchair ramps, while other homes needed yard work and trash hauling. All of this work was done for free.

“This is one of the most exciting things that has happened in our community in a while,” said Jim Newsom, pastor of King Moravian Church.

The churches helped many who were widows, disabled, or in need of assistance for home repairs. Fifty-seven homes were repaired by the end of the weekend.

The Mission Blitz began on Thursday, October 9 when the churches came together for a worship service, bringing loaves of bread for communion and for the families being helped. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, they worked separately as churches with some workers being shared around, then the churches gathered at Trinity Methodist Church for a worship service and covered dish. Each congregation brought one loaf of bread and shared communion together. They also shared pictures and stories of what had happened over the weekend.

Churches from throughout the county took part in “Share the Blessing”—Chestnut Grove UMC, Danbury Community Church, First Baptist Church of King, Fulp Moravian Church, King Moravian Church, Saint Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, Snow Hill UMC, Trinity UMC, and Willow Oak Baptist Church.

Church volunteers only had great things to say about working with other congregations.

“It was great being with them, to be working side by side, sharing the love that God gives us with the families we came in contact with. I thought it was amazing,” said Lisa Ingram of First Baptist Church of King.

Malcolm Roberts of Snow Hill United Methodist Church in Lawsonville shared similar feelings: “It was excellent. There is no denomination to it. The idea is to share the blessing. Maybe the t-shirt said it best—‘people going out and trying to be the hands of Christ in the community.’”

To find families that needed help, the churches contacted the Department of Social Services. They created a “Share the Blessing” application for families to fill out, and church members visited the homes ahead of time to see what work needed to be done. Once they saw what was needed, churches raised their own funds to complete the projects. Some churches had dinners or fundraisers to raise money for the repairs, while others relied on mission funds and private donations.

“Share the Blessing” actually began last year with King Moravian Church. Their youth came back from a camp where they had done some home improvements for the elderly, and they talked about what it would be like if they did that right in Stokes County. The church used the idea and spent a weekend working on 10 homes in the community. Word spread about the project, and this year it “grew nine fold,” as Pastor Newsom likes to put it.

Roberts of Snow Hill UMC said his church had been involved in different mission projects around the world, but that they had wanted to do something in their own community. “Share the Blessing” was the perfect opportunity. His church alone had 72 volunteers to pitch in, but the project wasn’t closed to church members. His church also worked with a scout troop on one project. People of various ages were also willing to help. Olivia Shelton of Danbury Community Church said that her church had workers of ages ranging from 7 to 76.

“We’ve already had quite a few members who asked when it would be again,” said Ingram of First Baptist. “It was very contagious, the excitement, and even the celebration service we had. It was so rewarding to see people all across this area come together.”

Pastor Newsom said they are still receiving calls from the Department of Social Services about families that need help. The need is out there, and the churches are hoping to recruit even more congregations for next year’s Mission Blitz, which will also be held in October.

Newsom thought the possibilities in the community were endless.

He said, “Imagine, what if we as Stokes County continued to choose this weekend to come together?”