Not So Extreme Makeover: Community Edition (Archive)

Now that X-week and come and gone, I’d like to share my view of this project.

From the time I got involved in this project, back in mid-January, up until X-week began, my view of this project had been different from most. I was concentrating on the process – how are we going to do what we need to do, and how could an automated information system make that process easier? As X-week approached, I watched the numbers grow – from 32 families, to 40, to 48, to 51; and from 200 volunteers, up through 650+. My view of the project, for lack of a better description, was all about the numbers. How many hits are we getting on the website? How many volunteers to do we have? How many people are there who signed up for [x] and [y] and aren’t yet on a Go Team? Necessary questions, certainly, but a little dry.

Then X-week arrived, and my website and database work was pretty much complete. This allowed me to begin working on one of the houses that our Go Team had been assigned. It needed a lot of work, but as just a few of us began working, we could see things starting to change. By the time Friday arrived, it was really looking different – the inside was cleared out, ready to clean and paint, broken windows had been replaced, and plumbing had mostly been repaired. Our homeowner had become ill, and some of his family had come in town. Our ministry was expanding.

Saturday arrived, and by 10:30am, we had a swarm of people at our house. The back yard was getting emptied quickly, people were scrubbing walls to prepare them for paint, and others were patching up broken stucco. Doors were replaced, paint was going on the walls – it was an absolutely amazing thing to see. But what was even more amazing was the fact that no one seemed to be struggling with the work – everyone was smiling, fellowshipping, and getting it done. By noon, there were people from the neighborhood who came up, asked what we were doing, and joined in with us. Our ministry was expanding even more.

Sadly, on Sunday, the owner of this home went to his Heavenly home. However, we have learned that his home will be used by Joshua’s Vineyard to house unwed mothers while they get back on their feet. What an amazing transformation! We started with number. We shifted to a ministry of helping one man be comfortable. It grew to a witness in the neighborhood. Now, this home that we worked on will be used to help who-knows-how-many people in the future!

To God be the glory – great things He has done!

I designed the house last summer, and our builder broke ground at the beginning of January long before we knew anything about NSX. When my wife and I went out on Saturday to inspect the progress, we discovered that one of the exterior doors I had specified in the design just didn’t look right against the other interior and exterior features of the house.  We agonized over having the door replaced, because our builder had already paid for the current door and a replacement would cost quite a bit to switch out. Our builder had no other use for the door in the house, so I was left with a $250, 6′ 8″ exterior pre-hung door with a left-hand swing, and no place to put it.  On Easter morning between services I felt prompted to ask an NSX leader if by any chance he had need for a pre-hung door of this size and description, figuring that any such needs had already been provided for. To my surprise – Josh indicated that he DID INDEED need a door of this type, at this time, this height, and this swing, for one of the families being ministered to!  I wasn’t sure whether to shout, cry or what! The door that I mistakenly worked into a floor plan last Summer, and which had been installed just last week, and is being uninstalled on Monday, is going to be put to (better) use this week by God for a family that needs a door right here, right now. It has also been a great opportunity for us to share with our builder about NSX, and the way God is using people to meet the practical needs of folks in our community. God’s reach is so far beyond our comprehension!  I pray that I would never question that, and I thank Him for using us even it this small way.

This past Sunday, a man was visiting Albuquerque from Texas. To make a long story short; he heard about NSX, it resonated with him and he immediately wrote an unsolicited check for $2,000.00 to NSX! We have also had inquiries from a city in Texas and also Tulsa, OK, wanting to know how they could initiate their own NSX Makeover: Community Edition. It just doesn’t get better than walking with God and watching Him work through people!

God is producing a good work in our city. Here is a recent e-mail in response to a request for volunteers:

I will volunteer for any one of those days, and if you need help on Sat too, sign me up for 2 days.  You tell me which day(s) you need me, and I’m there.  I’ll ask my boss now for either one of those days, so that part is taken care of when you know more.  It is my joy to serve our Lord and make a difference in our community. I’m so excited for the move of our fellowship out into the community to show God is real and to be a catalyst for His Spirit to fall upon our city.  We are in the process of an extreme makeover for our entire community!

Several weeks ago I visited a couple we are anticipating partnering with. I returned later and gave the lady of the house a Bible stick (MP3) with the New Testament on it and she seemed thrilled. This morning I called to set up an appointment for our assessment and after I told her who I was she said “I finished through Matthew 18 and my whole family is listening to the New Testament.” So this is not all about stuff. Praise God.

You know – I wouldn’t necessarily do a Bible study with this translation! But…this passage says a mouth full! I believe everything we’re seeing God do in Albuquerque is because of prayer and His Word. It is no coincidence that many in our churches have taken the time to listen to the Word through the FCBH: You’ve Got The Time program (www.fcbh.org) and now we are seeing churches coming together to be the hands and feet of Jesus! It is fun being a part of the Body of Christ and watching Him do things through us that we could never do on our own! 

“Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything…” – 1 Peter 4:10 (The Message)

A few days ago I visited with an elderly man in need. His health has been in decline for some time now, he is physically weak and has been unable to keep up with his basic home needs. His house was in disrepair, his yard cluttered. At the back of the house a bundle of old clothes fills the gap between the air conditioner and the window frame. The inside of his house was not any better. In fact, because he has no water in his kitchen, he washes dishes in his bathtub. In humility he said, “I am ashamed to have to ask for help and I am embarrassed because I can’t do it myself.” After visiting with him a while, we let him know that there were people that just wanted to help him because he clearly has great need. He agreed and then said, “I just can’t believe that anyone wants to help me – it must be God. Praise the Lord!”