By Tammy Sharp, Regional Reporter
LEESVILLE – Missionaries from all across the South joined forces this summer in Vernon Parish to help with the construction of a new building for the Helping Hands Storefront Ministry, located at 603 South Third Street in Leesville.
The ministry had an official ribbon cutting and dedication of the facility on Nov. 22.
“The Lord has definitely provided. The chapel, the new refrigerators, food storage, and the additional space is all because He has been a part of this project from day one,” Vernon Director of Missions E.J. Bradshaw said.
The project got underway May 27, with the arrival of Steve Hayes of Crosby, Miss., who coordinated the more than 150 volunteers from four different states as they moved in and out of Leesville to complete the work. Those who have poured their hearts into the storefront ministry over the last two decades say they are grateful for the help, but not surprised.
“God has provided for our needs at Helping Hands Storefront Ministries since its beginning in 1992,” said Modie Phillips, director of the storefront. “Philippians 4:19 is the scripture the Vernon Baptist Missions committee claimed at that time and we still claim this promise now.”
And many, many people have been faithful to God in their service to Helping Hands, said Phillips. “We are so thankful for the volunteers that have traveled to Leesville to work on the new building and for the people and churches that have donated to the building fund. I am also very thankful for the 60 dedicated volunteers who work at the mission each month. God is so good. Praise His Holy name.”
“It’s largely a work of faith,” said Bradshaw of the building project. “Without the builders there’s no way we could have paid a contractor to do all of this work. The response has been amazing.”
The completed building now houses more than a dozen ministries and missions, all focused on loving others and spreading the gospel. The building has been made more efficient and more capable, said Bradshaw.
Helping Hands operates a food pantry as well as a thrift store that offers clothing, household items and furniture at garage sale prices. Tutoring in English as a second language is also available. The entire ministry currently takes up space in two buildings, located across the street from one another.
The Helping Hands building at 603 South Third contains the clothing ministry, the food pantry, offices and the chapel, where weekly services are conducted. Across the street, 620 South Third Street houses the Vernon Baptist Association, as well as Helping Hands’ Home Center and Tutoring Center. Once Helping Hands vacates this building, the Vernon Baptist Association hopes to expand its meeting space, its counseling space and its mission incubation space.
The new building, which is located at the corner of South Street and Third Street, adjacent and across the street from both of the current buildings, will provide expanded room (to the tune of 7,330 sq. ft.) for most, if not all, of Helping Hands’ ministries. The clothing ministry, the food pantry, the chapel and the offices will move into the new space, while the Home Center will move into the space vacated at 603 South Third.
During the work on the building, project volunteers either stayed in local hotels, paying for their own lodging; stayed at local churches, such as Pine Hill Baptist Church, First Baptist Leesville or Old Anacoco Baptist; or they brought campers and stayed on site.
Some also chartered busses, provided their own meals and brought more volunteers to conduct Vacation Bible Schools at local housing authorities and parks while they were here.
The volunteers have included Kingdom Builders from Branson, Mo.; members of Grove Hill Baptist Church in Alabama; builders from Rome, Ga.; members of North Highland Baptist Church of Hueytown, Alabama; and Palmetto Baptist Church from Palmetto, Ga.
Carpenters, plumbers, electricians and laborers of all kinds, male and female as well as inmates from the local prison, raised the building, blocked it in, installed insulation, wiring, heating and air conditioning as well as sheet rock.
While Helping Hands is paying for the supplies with a $400,000 budget largely obtained through a bank loan, others have donated money to the cause. The first $100,000 Helping Hands saved from the sale of donated clothing at $.25 to $.50 per item over the last decade as well as the sale of donated household furniture and items through Helping Hands’ Home Center.
The Vernon Baptist Association provided another $55,000, also acquired through a bank loan, toward the project in exchange for the title to the whole of the building the association now shares with Helping Hands.
However, Bro. Robert Dukes, pastor of Castor Baptist Church, acting on a conviction of the Lord, challenged the churches of the association to cover that cost.
“I prayed and asked God what and how I should lead Castor Baptist Church…to be involved,” Dukes said in a letter to all of the churches. “As the Lord shared with my heart, I saw that if 11 churches contributed $5,000 the need would be met.”
Dukes followed up his challenge with a donation from his own church of $5,000. Eight other churches and an anonymous individual met the challenge and made contributions totaling $13,380.
The Louisiana Baptist Convention has also contributed $20,000 to Helping Hands through the Georgia Barnette Offerings.
It all went to insure this important ministry would have the room and building to meet the needs of the communities.
In the month of November alone, Helping Hands volunteers distributed 11,580 pounds of food to 342 individuals; distributed 5,649 items of clothing to 704 families and gave 381 items to charity; provided 1,676 items to 487 families through its Home Center; provided four families in crisis with 211 household items; and five tutors helped nine students (Cambodia, Mexico, China, Vietnam, Germany, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic) while also providing Bible study to 14 people and worship services to approximately 163 people.
Helping Hands joined with Vernon Parish Law Enforcement, Walmart and Eagle Rock Energy to help sponsor Shop with a Cop Christmas for Needy Children (ages 4 – 12). A Nov. 7 fundraiser gathered enough donations that each of the 201 children registered received $50 to spend on Christmas gifts.
While the main building is complete, volunteers are needed to help with renovations of its former building through the final week of December. Phillips said the most help is needed with painting, flooring and shelving. Interested volunteers should call 337.238.0415 or 337.238.3832.