Churches build house in Kenton for fellow Baptist
- Nov 5, 2007 - comment
KENTON — When members of several area churches here learned that a fellow Southern Baptist, Raymond Forrest, was homeless, they decided to build him a house.
Forrest owns about two acres south of Kenton and lived in a manufactured home there until a fire destroyed it this spring. He is a member of First Baptist Church, Kenton, but also attends Laneview Baptist Church, Kenton, which is located near his land.
Forrest has lived in the area for several years and done handyman and car repair jobs to make a living.
He had some options, said Forrest, when his home burned which included going to live with family, but he decided to stay where he was and make do although it was cold at night.
He used plastic to shield himself. Then someone gave him a tent which he used. Then this summer James Talley, a member of Laneview Baptist Church, Trenton, heard about Forrest’s plight and brought him a small trailer Talley had used at the Tennessee River when he fished there.
When David Gammons and Ed May of Laneview Baptist, Kenton, learned about Forrest’s situation, they visited him.
Gammons said he has known Forrest who is from the area from childhood but hadn’t seen him for years. Forrest had worked in St. Louis in construction before developing some personal problems. He moved back to Kenton to be near some of his family.
Gammons said he and May, after seeing the conditions Forrest was living in, “told him that day we’re going to help you.”
It took several months to plan the project and spread the word, said Gammons, which he did by letter to Baptist churches. Gammons works for a company which makes clothes steamers.
Most of the work was completed on Saturday, Oct. 20. Though the house is small, the costs are substantial, said Charles Pratt, pastor, First Baptist Church, Kenton, who joined Gammons and May in planning the project.
Supporting the project are Laneview Baptist, Kenton; Laneview Baptist, Trenton; First Baptist, Kenton, Bethel Baptist, Yorkville; New Concord Baptist, Kenton; First Baptist, Rutherford; Macedonia Baptist, Kenton; New Salem Baptist, Kenton; Bethpage Baptist, Kenton, and the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions through the Mississippi River Ministry of Tennessee.
Members of the former Faith Outreach Church, Dyer, gave money. A member of the Kenton Church of Christ church, Billy Wyrick, wired the house. City Lumber in Dyer and Lowes in Union City gave discounted materials.
Finally individuals, even some not involved in church, have helped with the project, said Pratt. He noted that the area doesn’t have lodging for homeless men. Plans are for Forrest to move into the completed house in a couple of weeks, Pratt reported.
Charles Crousen, Kenton city judge and a member of First Baptist Church, Kenton, worked on the house on Oct. 20. He said, “I’m just hoping this will be a turning point in his life,” referring to Forrest.
“This is not about Raymond. It’s about me doing what I need to do,” Crousen explained. The work with the other volunteers is fun and the project may positively influence the community, he added.
May, who is employed by Sara Lee Foods, Newbern, also worked on the house on Oct. 20. He said he and Forrest worked on the foundation prior to that day. Afterwards May saw Forrest looking through some photographs made of their work. He was looking at them through tears, said May.
The project might help Forrest in his life, said May, and it might change the lives of some of the volunteer workers.
Forrest said he was “shocked” at what people were doing for him. “This is a big blessing out here for me.”
This article is reprinted from the October 31, 2007, issue of Baptist & Reflector, the newsjournal of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
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