PHOTOS
The beginnings of RtR
On June 24, 2012, the Raise the Roof Project began the first of two weeks of work camps. Teams replaced three roofs on homes near South Broad Street during the day and spent their evenings in worship and fellowship at Dauphin Way.
The ministry continues to grow each year. Fifteen roofs have been repaired and more than 350 students have served with us.
God has called us to participate in His greater purpose of drawing people into relationship with Him. Our hope is that through making themselves available, each volunteer who serves, each contributor who donates, each neighbor who wonders why teenagers are on top of a house, and each homeowner will be drawn into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.
How did the vision begin?
In the summers of 2009 and 2011, the student ministry at Dauphin Way UMC served with Service Over Self (SOS) in Memphis, TN. The work involved repairing damaged and leaky roofs in a neighborhood similar in demographics to the South Broad Street neighborhood in Mobile. Team returned from these experiences realizing that Mobile had a need for this type ministry and asked, "why are we not doing something....?" The vision for Raise the Roof Project grew from that question.
The South Broad Street neighborhoods have historical significance to Mobile, but are now known more for crime and urban poverty. Organizations such as the Inner City Mission and Taylor Park Community Center seek to restore hope to the neighborhoods through community programming, after school tutoring, and a women's homeless shelter. These are meeting important needs, but the sub-optimal living conditions of families in the area is a stark reality. Mobile is among the top cities in the country for rainfall amount and also has an annual threat of hurricanes. A dry home is a safe haven for families.
#RaisetheRoof2k15
Teams from FUMC Kearney, NE, FUMC Florence, AL, Missouri UMC, Dauphin Way UMC of Mobile, Wilmer UMC, St. Francis of Assisi in Gulf Breeze, and Fairhope UMC served during the summer of 2015 with Raise the Roof Project. Many thanks to all who participated! Click below to see photos or read the Mobile Press-Register article that was retweeted by the national Episcopal Church.
Inspiration from the scripture
Acts 1:8 challenges the Christian to be a witness of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem (in your local city), in Judea (in your state or region) and in Samaria (among the lost and forgotten), and to the ends of the world (internationally). For the local community and for those from longer distances, this ministry will provide an avenue to fulfill God's desire for His church.
Luke 5:17-26: Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man
One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk?' But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.
Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
The hole in the roof is the avenue for the friends and the paralyzed man to get to Jesus. The paralyzed man needs forgiveness and healing, the friends need to provide support and compassion, and everyone there that day is filled with awe at seeing God's grace for the paralyzed man. In some cases, the homeowner will be the paralyzed soul. For others, the mission team may need the healing. Either way, the roof is the entry point into the hearts and lives of those who need to experience the grace, healing, and love of Jesus.
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