Church group swoops in to assist neighbor in need
Sometimes all it takes is the recognition of a need to make a profound difference. That and a dozen men armed with hammers, saws and nails with a desire to help a neighbor.
As the sun arose Monday morning under a clear blue sky, members of the brotherhood at Improve Baptist Church stepped out of their trucks and into the heart of new Marion County resident Chuck Terrell.
Terrell, who retired following a 35-year pastoral career, is in remission of a rare blood cancer and having trouble getting in and out of his new home on Barber Drive he has been preparing to move into. Installing ramps at the side entrance and back door of his home was a necessity, but a job he was unable to do himself.
A member of the Improve Baptist Church brotherhood called pastor Darel Daniels to tell him of Terrell’s predicament, and Daniels announced his intent of helping Terrell to the congregation Sunday morning. Twenty-four hours later nearly a dozen members accompanied Daniels to Terrell’s home and began building ramps for their new neighbor.
“I’m just a little overwhelmed of their thoughtfulness and generosity,” Terrell said. “I’m just meeting these guys for the first time and they’re building me ramps at two entrances.”
Terrell compared his life’s work of building paths for people to have a relationship with God to the work pastor Daniels and the brotherhood are doing for him.
“I built ramps for people for 35 years as a pastor and now they’re building ramps for me to help with my condition,” he said.
The project is far from the brotherhood’s first, and Daniels said there hasn’t been a mission presented to them yet they haven’t embarked on.
“We believe in being active and getting out and doing things. I’ve been blessed since I’ve been pastor to be here with some men that don’t mind work or being active,” he said. “God has given us a lot of opportunities over the years to minister the people. Every time one presents itself these men are willing to jump and go, and I’m just thrilled to be a part of it.”
The brotherhood was quick to point out the work it does isn’t about the members, but instead it’s about the Lord.
“These guys don’t look for accolades or a pat on the back. They just enjoy helping. We have retired engineers, construction guys and people who have been in all types of industry,” Daniels said. “These guys have real skills.”
Terrell was overcome with sentiment for the kindness shown by his new community.
“It amazes me on short notice that strangers would do this for me,” he said. “What a wonderful mission.”
Pictured Above: Tony Morris cuts a piece of wood with a circular saw near the back entrance of new Columbia resident Chuck Terrell’s home Monday. Men from Improve Baptist Church volunteered to build a new ramp for the retired pastor. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
