Plain red bricks lie in a heap behind a crooked wooden cross. They are all that remain of Smithville Baptist Church, where residents fled for shelter and, somehow, survived the April tornado that killed 17 of their neighbors. A few streets away, a house remains, but the roof is gone. On the debris-pocked wall, a white cross is spray-painted alongside five somber numbers: 4-27-11.
Every brick in Smithville tells a story. But this week, as a load of bricks made its way from Columbus northward, a new narrative unfolded: Mississippi churches “adopting” storm-impacted families through a grassroots, interfaith initiative for a year-long journey of faith, partnership and recovery.
Though Adopt-A-Family, a special project of the Create Foundation, began in Tupelo, it swiftly spread to Columbus and beyond. Between 35 and 45 churches have signed up to adopt families for the next 12 months, offering a range of aid, from emotional and spiritual support to labor, materials, and — in some cases — complete homebuilding.
Saturday morning, a special “adoption” ceremony was held at First Baptist Church in Tupelo. During the ceremony, participating church leaders received a clay paver brick inscribed with a Bible verse and donated by Columbus Marble Works. At the end of the year, when the work is complete, the churches will give the brick to their adopted family as a reminder of a difficult time with a positive outcome.
Key Blair, manager of the company, said his employees engraved between 60 and 70 bricks for the project this week. Each is inscribed: “1 John 3:17-18.”
The scripture encourages Christians to help their “brother in need,” telling them to show Christ”s love “not in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
It is a verse which Shawn Parker, pastor of First Baptist Church of Columbus, took to heart. A few days after the tornado, he drove to Monroe County to talk with Wes White, pastor of Smithville Baptist. He brought hygiene kits, bottled water, and other items. Less than a week later, Parker”s congregation gave $17,000 for storm relief.
When First Baptist Church members found out about the Adopt-A-Family project, they immediately wanted to be involved.
“There were many, many families that lost everything they had, or most of what they had,” Parker said Friday afternoon. “We just feel like it”s our responsibility as good neighbors and as Christians.”
Contemporary worship leader Alex Holliman took it a step further, saying that as an outreach church, they are always “looking for opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.”
For project organizers Stephen Tybor and Trina Finley, both of First Baptist Church of Tupelo, Adopt-A-Family was a way to help at a time when no one knew where to begin. Both have children who attend Tupelo Christian, and two weeks before the tornado, they had attended a baseball game in Smithville.
“It hit close to home,” Tybor said. “We take for granted that when we leave our house in the morning and come back, it will be there. When it”s totally gone, you can”t fathom that. God tells us we”re to use the gifts he”s given us. It was so hard for me to sit and act like nothing was happening 40 miles away where people are hoping the world hasn”t forgotten.”
Tybor said approximately 53 Monroe and Choctaw County families are available for adoption. Priority was given to those whose homes were destroyed and had no insurance.
Each church is given the chance to read about the families and their needs before making a commitment. This allows them to gauge their involvement level and choose families they will be able to most help.
“Each church is not necessarily committing to building a house,” Tybor said. “They”re committing, ”We”re going to walk with you and help you.” Some churches might be literally rebuilding a house, and others may be donating labor and materials. Each church makes its own commitment.”
In some cases, small churches may even partner with other congregations to help a family.
Nancy Grisham, one of seven project organizers with Adopt-A-Family, said serving with the group has been a vivid reminder of the advantages faith-based charities and non-profit organizations have when it comes to getting boots on the ground and dollars in hand immediately after a disaster.
“They can cut through the red tape, because they know the pulse of the community, and they know the people,” Grisham said. “It”s exciting to see churches coming together for one common goal to help the hurting. There are no walls or boundaries. Everybody”s laying aside denominational barriers to reach out to the hurting in our area and be the hands of Jesus.”
Tybor said he knows that, realistically, every family may not be adopted, because there is simply more need than there are churches to fill that need. He welcomes all offers of assistance.
“I would never rob the joy that God wants someone to have,” Tybor said.
For more information, please visit http://adoptafamilyms.com or call Tybor at 662-213-8778.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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