Home Repair
   
The beginnings of The Friends of Barnabas Foundation's Home Repair Ministry goes back to the early 1990's.  As the pastor of Magnolia UMC in Suffolk, Virginia, Linwood Cook was approached by a church member.  Daily she said she drove by a home that she had literally watched fall further into disrepair, until one day she noticed that the roof was nearly collapsed.  God told her to stop.  She did stop that day and met Earnest and Lillie, the elderly couple who lived there.  Neither were in good health, but they put off taking care of their needs as they were raising their three grandchildren.  Money to take care of their home was simply nonexistent. 
   
The idea to repair the home was formally presented to the church, and the response was truly unbelievable.  On a Saturday soon after, the church came together to give the family their home back (not to mention their first indoor bathroom.)
   
As The Friends of Barnabas Foundation was being formed ten years later, the realization came that there are times when we all pass a home like the one in the story above.  There are many who own their homes, but are helpless to watch them fall down around them, as all of the household's income goes to food, medicine, and heat. 
   
Here is how FOBF's Home Repair Ministry functions:
   
  • Look for the need in your community, on your commute, or literally go out of you way to find someone who needs you to stop by.
  • After seeing if the family is receptive to the idea, approach your pastor - ask if he thinks that he can get the entire church behind the project...there will be a job for everyone.
  • Call or email us or have your church contact us - we will get you started!
   
If the project is approved by The Friends of Barnabas Foundation, we will fund the home's material needs if your church will arrange and provide the labor to make a house a home again.
   

Past Projects

  

Beulah UMC
Richmond, VA
   

Fairview UMC
Danville, VA
(project home in Smithfield, VA)
   

Corinth UMC
Sandston, VA
   

Bethia, UMC
Winterpock, VA
   

Warwick Memorial UMC
Newport News, VA
   

Ramsey UMC
Richmond, VA
   

Bethany UMC/
Gloucester Housing Partnership
Gloucester Point, VA
   
   

"Service is the rent that you pay for room on this earth."
  - Shirley Chisolm