Church in Need Receives Aid From Cooperative Program, Other Churches

By Stephanie Heading

On December 30, 2022, the building of New Journey Church in Cleveland sustained significant damage at the hands of a hit and run driver. The still unknown driver sped one thousand feet across the church’s front yard and plowed into the facility, leaving a gaping hole.

Pastor Charles Redmon contacted Reginald Hayes, SCBO convention relations, to see what help SCBO might be able to provide. Hayes contacted John Heading, director of Disaster Relief, to see if DR might be able to lend aid. However, “The scope of the work was beyond what we could do right now,” said Heading.

“I just felt it was something we should do”

The church found a contractor who was willing to repair the hole in the building for $15,000, but New Journey didn’t have those funds available. They collected $5,000 and the contractor agreed to fix the building and allow them to pay the other $10,000 when they were able to raise the money.

At this point Disaster Relief stepped back into the picture as Heading began reaching out to SCBO churches and North American Mission Board Send Relief to raise the funds to pay off the $10,000 debt. “I just felt it was something we should do. We couldn’t repair the damage, but together we could pay the bill,” said Heading. “I sent emails to ten SCBO churches for support. I also sent an email to Coy Webb, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief senior leader, who forwarded the email to Josh Benton, domestic vice president of Send Relief North American Ministry.

“We can do so much more when we work together.”

Send Relief donated $7,500; and Ohio Disaster Relief, First Baptist Church, Heath, University Baptist Church, Beavercreek, First Baptist Church, Fairborn, and a private donor provided the rest of the money so New Journey Church could pay the contractor and move forward from this incident.

“The financial gifts toward the needs at New Journey Church came from individuals, churches, Ohio Disaster Relief, and Send Relief Cooperative Program funds,” Heading said. “Once the need was known, organizations across SBC and SCBO worked together to meet it. We can do so much more when we work together.”

Damage inside New Journey Church.