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Volunteers are building the house, but God is in the details at the Rickman home in Goodman.
The new house is founded on scripture, literally: Six verses ranging from John 3:16 to Revelation 3:20 are inscribed on the concrete block foundation. Homeowners Jerry and Gladys Rickman wrote them along the walls and under their new porch.
“We’re built on God’s foundation,” Gladys Rickman said.
The old home – which will be torn down after the project is finished – sits just in front of the new one. Portions of their home are more than 150 years old. The family has lived just off Ozark Trail since 1986, but there was a house on the property before Goodman reached this far, some 184 years ago back when the house was in Erie Station.
Their children built a glassed-in porch and, after the ice storm a few years ago, they replaced the roof, but the foundation began to crumble and water started flowing from their yard into their bathroom. They checked into available programs, but were heartbroken when they were told fixing structural problems at their house would cost more than replacing it – something that was not an option on their fixed income.
“I prayed and prayed and prayed,” Gladys said.
An anonymous donor called their church and offered funds to build them a replacement house if Abundant Life would donate the work. The church’s Men Making a Difference group volunteered for the job and joined by members of Freedom Fellowship they made plans and started to work. The team had about seven full workdays in the project by Saturday as they finished wrapping the house, installing shingles and the heat and air units. It is the first time the men’s group has tackled a homebuilding project.
“God has orchestrated everything smoothly,” said Wes Ogden, who helped to coordinate the building effort. “The guys have worked together wonderfully.
“Gladys bathed it in prayer, every aspect of the building.”
When they first started, Gladys was ill and confined to the house, so she watched from the back window and prayed and packed boxes, something she started the minute she heard the project was a go.
“God is in the men’s hearts to want to do something for people,” Rickman said.
The crew hopes to have the family in their new home before Christmas. Ogden said the MMAD members are trying to follow Christ’s servant example.
“We’re serving as Christ has called us to serve,” Ogden said.
Many of the volunteers Rickman knows from her years of work or from their days playing baseball with her children.
“I believe God’s people need to get the glory,” Rickman said. “There are good people in the church out here.”
Volunteers are building the house, but God is in the details at the Rickman home in Goodman.
The new house is founded on scripture, literally: Six verses ranging from John 3:16 to Revelation 3:20 are inscribed on the concrete block foundation. Homeowners Jerry and Gladys Rickman wrote them along the walls and under their new porch.
“We’re built on God’s foundation,” Gladys Rickman said.
The old home – which will be torn down after the project is finished – sits just in front of the new one. Portions of their home are more than 150 years old. The family has lived just off Ozark Trail since 1986, but there was a house on the property before Goodman reached this far, some 184 years ago back when the house was in Erie Station.
Their children built a glassed-in porch and, after the ice storm a few years ago, they replaced the roof, but the foundation began to crumble and water started flowing from their yard into their bathroom. They checked into available programs, but were heartbroken when they were told fixing structural problems at their house would cost more than replacing it – something that was not an option on their fixed income.
“I prayed and prayed and prayed,” Gladys said.
An anonymous donor called their church and offered funds to build them a replacement house if Abundant Life would donate the work. The church’s Men Making a Difference group volunteered for the job and joined by members of Freedom Fellowship they made plans and started to work. The team had about seven full workdays in the project by Saturday as they finished wrapping the house, installing shingles and the heat and air units. It is the first time the men’s group has tackled a homebuilding project.
“God has orchestrated everything smoothly,” said Wes Ogden, who helped to coordinate the building effort. “The guys have worked together wonderfully.
“Gladys bathed it in prayer, every aspect of the building.”
When they first started, Gladys was ill and confined to the house, so she watched from the back window and prayed and packed boxes, something she started the minute she heard the project was a go.
“God is in the men’s hearts to want to do something for people,” Rickman said.
The crew hopes to have the family in their new home before Christmas. Ogden said the MMAD members are trying to follow Christ’s servant example.
“We’re serving as Christ has called us to serve,” Ogden said.
Many of the volunteers Rickman knows from her years of work or from their days playing baseball with her children.
“I believe God’s people need to get the glory,” Rickman said. “There are good people in the church out here.”
