Cherryville Churches Rebuild Home in Western North Carolina

1:41 PM EST |February 18, 2025|Lauren Ramsey|Appalachia, News Articles, Religion-Spiritual-Cryptid, Weather

By: Lauren Ramsey – Wise News Network

Ashe County, NC (WNN) – On the 11th of January, 2025, men from multiple churches in Cherryville, North Carolina, united to reconstruct a house in Ashe County. It belonged to an elderly couple that had lost their house through the impact of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. They toiled in the cold weather and snow for two days to reconstruct the house, providing the occupants with hope for a fresh beginning.

A Call to Action

It all started when Pastor Ken Jones of Friendship Baptist Church in Jefferson, NC, contacted Pastor Dale Hendricks of Shady Grove Baptist Church concerning disaster relief initiatives. For years, the two became good friends and colleagues while serving on different mission projects. Following the meeting with homeowner Bruce, the two saw the immediate need to rebuild.

Churches Come Together

“I went back to Cherryville and discussed the vision with our men at Shady Grove Baptist Church and some of our men from our community,” said Hendricks. “We were joined by men from Shady Grove, First Baptist Church, Second Baptist Church, and St John’s Lutheran Church to work on the project. It is great to see churches in Cherryville uniting for the cause of Christ.”

Volunteers working on the roof of the home. Photo sourced from Pastor Ken Jones Facebook Page.

Building Through the Cold

Paul Jenkins, a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church, was among those who traveled to Ashe County to assist with the construction.

“When we got up there, they had a rubber mat over the floor where they had already put the flooring in,” Jenkins said. “We had to take that up and lay out the walls. We got the exterior walls up, put on the trusses, and added the sheeting. The homeowner said he would finish what little we couldn’t get done due to the snow moving in.”

Volunteers working on the side of the home. Photo sent by: Pastor Dale Hendricks January 11th, 2025.

Facing Harsh Conditions

Despite the freezing temperatures, volunteers continued to complete the essential framework.

“It was 8 degrees when we started, and the wind chill was about minus 12,” Jenkins recalled. “But it was a blessing for us more than it was for him, I think. Just to see the damage up there is heartbreaking, and to be able to see a smile on someone’s face—that’s worth more than you can ever do.”

Volunteers working in the snow. Photo sent by: Pastor Dale Hendricks January 11th, 2025.

Making Progress Before the Snow

John Ross, another member of Shady Grove Baptist Church, helped with the construction and talked about the importance of not only rebuilding the home but also ministering to the couple. “We set all the trusses, put half the plywood on, and then we got snowed out,” Ross said. “But it was a wonderful time. Being able to minister to the family at the same time was a big part of it.”

A Life-Changing Experience

Ross mentioned that the couple had no other family and had moved to the mountains to spend their final years in peace. Before the storm, they had not been involved in a church, but the outreach from local churches made a lasting impact.

“Since the storm, they’ve seen the church be the only ones there for them,” Ross said. “You’ll hear that story all over the place. The mountain people are real proud, but they’ve seen firsthand the love of Christ through this.”

Next Steps in the Rebuild

The volunteers, although wanting to work for three days, ultimately worked for two days before leaving due to an incoming snowstorm. While much work remains, their efforts made it possible for the homeowners to return to their basement while they wait for the rest of the home to be completed.

“What we needed to get accomplished to get it inspected, we got that done,” Jenkins said. “They’ll have to wait on inspections before they can move on to plumbing and wiring. Then there will be another inspection before they can do insulation and Sheetrock. It just takes steps to get the house totally completed.”

These volunteers are planning a trip back in the upcoming weeks to continue working, focusing on plumbing as the next step in the rebuild.

A Mission of Hope

Members from Shady Grove Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, Second Baptist Church, and St. John’s Lutheran Church worked together to make this project a reality. Though the rebuild is ongoing, the churches remain committed to seeing it through. Their efforts reflect the power of faith and community in times of need, ensuring that Bruce and his wife will soon have a place to call home again.

How You Can Help

If you would like to help finish this home or start another one in our Helena-damaged mountains, Contact Pastor Ken Jones at 704-400-7497 for more information.

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