With those words, spoken by then North Coast District superintendent the Rev. Dan Drew, the idea of The Nehemiah Mission of Cleveland was conceived on August 3, 2003.
Over the next 10 years, 12,000 volunteers from across the country have come to Cleveland, completed 1,200 projects, impacted thousands of lives and been transformed themselves.
Marie Gray told the saga of her 12-year struggle with the city of Cleveland to receive assistance in painting her century home. The Nehemiah Mission completed the project within two months of contacting her this summer.
“Not only did you help build and repair and restore and rekindle and renew and regenerate and revive our house, but you also did that with us – me and my mother, who was taking care of me after my surgery,” she said.
Executive director Jim Szakacs reminded the clients who were present that the relationship between them and the Nehemiah Mission staff and volunteers is ongoing.
Those sentiments were echoed by Ballard when she addressed Szakacs and his staff.
“You’ve got to love people to be part of this Nehemiah Mission ministry,” Gray said.
In addition to hosting mission teams in the summer, The Nehemiah Mission is also home to the Matilde Davila emergency food pantry, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, the Revolution 216 worship service, and offers tutoring services for neighborhood children.
Beginning in November, Rocky River UMC will operate a free store inside a remodeled portion of The Nehemiah Mission facility.
Learn more about The Nehemiah Mission by clicking here.