In Pastor Brian Romanoff’s office at Mahomet’s First Baptist Church, there is a small sign. It says “Bee the hands and feet of Jesus.” This sentiment was stated often and echoed by a parishioner when talking about First Baptists’ role in rebuilding Gifford homes devastated by the November tornado.
“In November 2013, an F-3 tornado wrought a 29–mile path of destruction in the small farming community of Gifford. More than 90 homes were completely destroyed, and more than 40 homes required repair,” Pastor Brian wrote on his church’s web site.
One of those homes ripped apart on that Sunday belonged to Margie Lewis. Mahomet resident, Fran Street, who worked on rebuilding Ms. Lewis’ home, said she couldn’t imagine being in Ms. Lewis’ position.
“Her house was on the west side of town. It faced the corn fields. I can’t imagine how it would feel watching the tornado come across the field and knowing your house would be the first house hit,” said Street.
Street said she worked alongside Lewis, members First Baptist church, and other volunteers to rebuild the house in what Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County calls a “Blitz Build.”
A Blitz Build is where about 60 volunteers a day come together for a two weeks to build houses, from foundations to shingles, from cabinets to carpeting, according to Kim Golliings, Volunteer Manager, Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County.
Gifford’s Blitz Build resulted in three houses being built, three families getting their lives back on track, and more than 300 volunteers working together. And it is all because of one Mahomet man.
Pastor Brian sits in his office in First Baptist Church. It is located on Elm Street, and is reportedly the oldest church building in Mahomet. The doors creak and the floor is uneven. But Pastor Brian said the afternoon sun coming in the stained glass windows in the sanctuary is one of his favorite sights. It is from this office he tells the story of his role in founding the second-ever Blitz Build in Champaign County Habitat’s 23-year history.
Pastor Brian had never been to Gifford before the tornado. He went there with 18 church members shortly after the devastation because he is a team captain for the American Baptist Home Mission Society’s disaster relief team. Mahomet residents initially went there to cut down trees, and help with clean-up efforts. While he was there, he saw the need was much, much greater.
“After the town was denied FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) money, I had an idea,” Pastor Brian states.
That idea was to ask the American Baptist Home Mission Society to consider a mission trip to Gifford. This would bring church members from all over the country to come and help rebuild the town of less than 1,000 residents. The American Baptist Home Mission Society partnered with the Great Rivers Region of the American Baptist Church USA. Once Champaign County’s Habitat chapter became involved, the Blitz Build was on. And not a moment too soon.
“I remember sitting in a planning meeting in March with some Gifford residents,” Pastor Brian recalls. “The winter was so hard and no building had been done since the November tornado. People were starting to lose hope the town would ever recover.”
The build took place June 1 through 14. After the initial Blitz Build, Pastor Brian discovered they weren’t quite done. He called on his parishioners to work alongside Habitat volunteers for another week, starting June 17. In all, 12 members of his congregation took part in the build. They worked on two houses, met volunteers from as far away as Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, and learned a bit about their spirituality.
Fran Street said the build gave her a greater appreciation for what her husband, Steve, who is an executive for a commercial construction company, does.
‘Everyone has to work together to get the final result,” Street said. “Everyone has to do their part.”
Street said she initially became involved with the project because she had hoped to lead Mahomet youth on the job site. When no youth chose to go, Street found herself taking on a different role. She worked to clean up, both the homes’ inside, and the construction site.
“I came home with a blister from sweeping so much,” she laughs.
Despite the change in expectation, Street was not dissuaded.
“I became involved thinking I would be leading the youth,” she said. “I ended up cleaning up. But everyone’s role is important. We were all being the hands and feet of Jesus, no matter what we did. That’s what we were called to do; work together as one body in Christ. Brian was a wonderful role model for all of us. He took his two weeks’ vacation time to work on this project.”
“Brian was the first one on the construction site each morning and the last one to leave each evening,” Gollings said. “He was instrumental in getting this going.”
Mahomet residents who did not volunteer at the construction site, were able to contribute monetarily.
“The churches brought a monetary contribution with them. They didn’t have to, but the project wouldn’t have worked without that support,” Gollings said.
The Blitz Build is over in Gifford. Pastor Brian said his congregation has no future projects planned in Gifford. Gollings said there is a “good possibility” future Habitat projects will involve the Gifford community. She also indicated Habitat will have “mini Blitz Builds” in the fall to get Habitat houses in Champaign County under roof so inside work can be done during the winter months.
“It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you have the power of people working together,” Gollings said.
Street said near her worksite, there was a small boat twisted around a tree top. Gifford residents will keep the boat here, she said, as a reminder of the tornado. Pastor Brian’s inspiration to build new houses also can serve as a reminder.
Pastor Brian was asked to deliver the blessing for the Lewis house when the home was dedicated and the ribbon cut. He says he is honored to have done so.
