Baldwin County Lutherans,
Habitat for Humanity,
and Thrivent for Lutherans Team
Dedicate Robertsdale Home
April 15, 2010
The Lutheran Churches in Baldwin County (i.e., Ascension, Bethel, Concordia, Grace, Holy Trinity, Peace, Redeemer, St. Jude by the Sea, St. Mark's, St. Paul's, Shepherd of the Bay, and Zion) along with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans have built a third Habitat for Humanity Home in as many years, this year in Robertsdale, Alabama. Designed by architect Bob Chatham, the home was constructed on Georgia Street in just six weeks by volunteers. The family who will own this home will be Mike Hicks and his two children. Habitat home owners put considerable sweat equity into homes and take on home mortgage responsibilities as well.
April 15, 2010 - Click each photo to enlarge.
2010 "Lutheran Build" Coordinator Ned Owens (l) discussed the Habitat dedication event with "Home Blessing Coordinator, Pastor Michael Bonham of Peace Lutheran Church in Orange Beach
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Friends, family, volunteers, neighbors, and interested folks came for the home dedicatory event for the Hicks family. Twelve Lutheran Churches of Baldwin County worked with Thrivent for Lutherans to sponsor home construction.
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The home was completed with amenities, including roses at the end of a new driveway.
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Thrivent Financial Associates David Buckhaults (l) and Terry King posed next to a bluebird house, complete with a "squirrel protector" which was an added amenity. Thrivent has been proactive in house-building along the Gulf Coast.
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Friends, neighbors, Habitat folks, family, and representatives from the twelve Lutheran churches in Baldwin County gathered on April 15 to dedicate this new home with Mike Hicks. Pastor Michael Bonham, Peace Lutheran Church of Orange Beach, officiated and coordinated a blessing event which focused Scripture and prayer on each room. Charlie Canning and Pastor Dave from Zion Lutheran Church of Silverhill participated with Scripture and prayer for the living room and dining room. Mike Hicks carried a dedicatory candle throughout the home for the event. The Hicks family received a variety of house warming gifts including a Bible, a commemorative quilt, and household gifts. A variety of recognitions of volunteers was part of the event.
Click each photo to enlarge.
Friends and neighbors and volunteers gathered for fellowship and celebration relating to the Robertsdale Habitat home dedication.
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Habitat's Cathy Blake presented recognition certificates to volunteers at the dedication.
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Mike Hicks (with candle) joined in the dedication of each room in the new dwelling. Volunteers, lay people, and pastors from the Lutheran Churches joined in Scripture reading and prayer for the formal part of the dedicatory event.
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Janice and Ned Owens glance at the camera as they discuss refreshments, the "goodies" table being set up in the background. Volunteers brought a variety of delicacies to celebrate the dedication of Mike Hicks' Habitat home.
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Information concerning this 2010 "Lutheran Build" project can be directed to Ned Owens who has coordinated "Lutheran Build" activities for the past years via e-mail at NJOwens14@aol.com or by phone (251-978-0930). Baldwin County Habitat for Humanity may be contacted at 251- 943-7268 or via website at www.baldwinhabitat.org. A local contact for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is M. David Beckhaults at 251-443-5661.
Baldwin County Lutheran Churches
Work Together on Habitat for
Humanity Home in Robertsdale
March 1, 2010
Ned Owen and wife Janice are at it again. They have been coordinating the work of Baldwin's Lutheran Churches for several years in building homes with Habitat for Humanity. The group has built homes in Foley and Robertsdale. 2010 marks the second time a home has been built in Robertsdale.
Mike Hicks and his sons are very excited that construction of their new home began last week. The three have been working on the project with the various work crews.
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Think about this kind of progress. On Tuesday and Thursday of last week, the Robertsdale site was cleared, a tool shed was assembled and shelves installed, and much yard work was completed by lady volunteers with tractor assistance by Dale Stockwell and debris hauled away by Keith. The house pad was poured.
On Friday, 54 volunteers began the next step after devotions by Pastor Paul Leigeber from Shepherd by the Bay Lutheran Church and Vicar Adam Sorenson from St. Mark's Lutheran Church. "An army runs on its stomach," so Peace Lutheran Church of Gulf Shores and St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Foley served that "lunch ammunition." By the end of the day, the exterior and interior walls were installed and squared up to be ready for trusses and roof work on Saturday. It was a concentrated job with a crew comprised of volunteers, Habitat staff, Mike Hicks and family (new homeowners), and partner families.
Saturday brought rain, but faithful, hearty volunteers and staff arrived in anticipation of the rain stopping. Again, Pastor Paul Leigeber gave a devotional and work began. Even with delays, the primary trusses were up by lunch time when members of Lillian's Shepherd by the Bay Lutheran Church provided a wonderful lunch. By working overtime, the crew was able almost to complete sheathing the roof. Inside, the tie down straps, both top and bottom, were completed. Wiring was accomplished, caulking was done, and windows were installed. Styrofoam wrap was installed on the exterior.
Monday brought a small crew out to complete roof sheathing before coming rain. Ned and Janice had put out the call to "come and bring willing hands and backs to quickly and safely assure a dry Hicks' home."
The new Hicks' home being constructed in the Habitat for Humanity program would be hit by rain on Monday evening, so Phil Rutherford (Gulf Shores) was on the roof, running his air-powered hammer-tacker very early in the work day.
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The Monday morning crew worked on completing the roof sheathing before the coming rains. Dave Decker (Fairhope) and Stan Lieser (Foley) (ground, l to r) discussed the project as Phil Blake (Fairhope) nailed sheathing down on the roof. It was about 9 AM.
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Lutheran Coordinator, Ned Owens (l) and Habitat's Cathy Blake applied tape sealer to assure that any window gaps in the styrofoam sheathing would be sealed tightly on the new Hicks home.
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The job is "a work in progress," but the Hicks are on target to have a new home soon. Already with this first week, 72 volunteers from eight states have put time in on this project. Forty-six have been Lutherans, with 51 of them being members of Thrivent for Lutherans which has contributed substantial funds to support this "Baldwin Lutheran Build."
Volunteers and interested folks can contact Ned and Janice Owens at NJOwens14@aol.com.
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