About Built for Jesus!
How Built for Jesus Started
Deacons regularly assess the needs of church members and then seek to meet those needs. Terry, Don, and I were all deacons at the church we attended. As such, service was something we regularly did. This started with meeting the needs of the elderly, widows, and widowers in our congregation.
Other members, who weren’t deacons, initially came alongside us by identifying needs and then helping us meet those needs. It started with a wheelchair ramp for an elderly couple. Next came a twenty-five-foot-long fence that we demolished and replaced for a next-door neighbor of one of our initial members when the number of our members could be counted on two hands.
From the beginning, we’ve met for breakfast, most days, before starting work. After weeks of searching for a proper name that described what we were trying to accomplish, we sat helplessly eating breakfast. The youngest member, when hearing of our struggles, took about 10 seconds and came up with Built for Jesus! We stared at him for a second or two and unanimously agreed that would be our name.
Why Built for Jesus
This name indeed characterizes what we do and why we do it. We are Built for Jesus and are designed to serve others the way He would if He were here. Early fall of 2022, we decided to start a Facebook group to let others know what we were doing, and more importantly, what we could do for others.
How God Has Been Working Through Us
The first job, after starting the Facebook group, was for a young man and his family where we made him a one-hundred-foot-long wheelchair ramp. He was faced with years of being in a wheelchair and the only way out of his house was from the back yard. His mother secured a donation of the material, and we supplied the labor to put it in.
This mother became an instrumental part in the foundation of the company Built for Jesus. She and her family had started several non-profit companies in Missouri. With her guidance and the help of several others, we started to jump through all the hoops that Missouri requires to start a company. August 25, 2022, we became Built for Jesus!
Since then, we have become a 501(c)3 tax-exempt company with the federal government. God has directed our steps, and many have come alongside us to both work with us and to donate to our cause. We exist to help those who lack the means to help themselves. This lack of means can be either physical or financial.
We help others based on our skills which include carpentry, framing, trim work, plumbing, masonry, landscaping, cement work, and electrical. Our services have been, but are not limited to, repairing some but not all household appliances, building and repairing bathrooms, installing closets, widening doors, building and repairing decks and ramps, limited home remodeling, replacing ceiling fans and light fixtures, and many, many other things. We also provide light housekeeping and companionship.
Who We Help
From the beginning, we have desired to be more than just “free labor.” Because of this, and the fact that we’ve been taken advantage of, we’ve initiated an application process. Some might see the questions on this application as intrusive, but we need to identify those who are truly needy, versus those just wanting free help. Therefore, we will not be able to help everyone and that’s ok. We have limited resources and have had to be quite discerning when deciding who we help. Jesus has been gracious to each of us in this ministry, and we’re eternally grateful.
To Him Be All the Glory and Honor!
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this program?
Built For Jesus is a repair or renovation program where funds and volunteer labor is used to meet the needs of a homeowner.
Who can receive assistance?
Any homeowner who demonstrates a basic need based on limited savings and income or the physical ability to make repairs.
Who coordinates the program?
The Built For Jesus Corporation.
Where does the funding come from for the program?
As a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation, Built For Jesus relies on donations and grants to provide the money and materials necessary to make the repairs.
How does someone apply for assistance?
An application can be downloaded from the application tab, filled out, and returned via the instructions on the application. Homeowners will need to sign a waiver of liability, plus provide proof of insurance and other information to be accepted for review.
Are all homeowners who apply guaranteed assistance?
Not necessarily. Applications are reviewed and prioritized based on repair needs and the resources available, both time and money, to make these repairs.
Who can sign up to volunteer to help make repairs?
Anyone can help make repairs.
Are there any other opportunities to help besides making repairs?
Yes! We have folks who go and clean, provide companionship, landscaping, and many other forms of ministry.
How do I sign up as volunteer to make repairs?
Contact one of the Facebook Group administrators, (Don Ackerman, Terry Oliphant, or Steve Anderson) for a sign-up form. This form includes a waiver of liability that must be signed. Once registered, you will be updated on upcoming volunteer opportunities.