SHEPHERD'S HELPERS
Imagine yourself living in a motorized wheelchair all day long, in a house 3 feet off the ground with no way to get out of your home. If your home caught on fire, you would be unable to escape. The Shepherd's Helpers of Jarvis, working with the Pitt County Council on Aging, the Chamber of Commerce, and the USDA, recently built handicap ramps for individuals such as this.
The Shepherd's Helpers at Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church are church members and their invited guests who come together to help in minor household repairs or other household projects we feel our Lord calling us to do. Currently, the Lord is primarily directing us to help seniors and physically challenged individuals needing our services. We base our mission on the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Since its inception in 2004, the Shepherd's Helpers have built seventeen handicap ramps, a porch, and provided numerous other services, from replacing light bulbs to replacing a ceiling fan.
The power of this ministry is evident in the responses we encounter from those to whom we extend a helping hand: Recently, a few of us returned to a work site to check on a ramp we had installed. The lady of the house came bounding out in her "hot wheels" with the biggest and happiest smile on her face that you have ever seen. For the first time in a number of years, she had, just that morning, driven her chair down the ramp, 'ran' the block to her son's house, and played with her grand children - all without assistance! The transformation that had taken place in her and her husband was miraculous, and our hearts were warmed.
So what can you do? There is something for everyone to do! The Shepherd's Helpers need men and women power for these projects. We do not necessarily need skilled craftsmen. Can you dig a post hole, use a shovel, or can you be trained? Yes, you can! We will train you. And ladies, you will be amazed at what you really can do. You can run a mitre saw or a drill or carry lumber. Food is another necessity. Our people need an energy source. Simple and quick lunches and snacks are the order of the day.
We are all called to be a witness for the Lord by sharing our gifts with others, whether it is local, national or worldwide - ministry and mission can be focused right here in our local community. What a feeling it is when tears, hugs, and smiles are passed around at the end of a long day. What a feeling to be told by one of our clients just how much it means to regain their independence. Those experiences are priceless. The Shepherd's Helpers really need your help. Give us a call or email, and we'll put you to work!
Larry Hagler, coordinator of the Shepherd's Helpers, describes his involvement in the ministry this way: "At this time in my life I am semi-retired after 40 years in higher education, serving as chair of East Carolina Department of Accounting and as a professor. For years a "handyman", my wife, Millie, and I saw a need to help seniors remain in their homes and started the Shepherd's Helpers."
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