With all of the world turmoil and local conflict that have been in the news recently, the story about the "house that God built" lifted our spirits.

As a spinoff of a service project at La Croix United Methodist Church, members were challenged to come up with a project that seemed almost too big or impossible.

They found that the Rev. Johnny Thomas, a self-proclaimed "hood preacher" needed some help. His house, located in a predominantly black neighborhood in a poor section of town, had been overcome with mold, making him sick.

Thomas' church and La Croix church -- a predominately white congregation -- had teamed up before with a program called The Bridge, aimed at uniting town residents from different racial and economic backgrounds.

The churches paired up again to repair the house, but the house was in such poor condition the churches decided to tear it down and start anew. Eight months into the program, Thomas' house is nearly finished.

What a tremendous example of community cooperation and Christ-like service. God bless both congregations and Johnny Thomas.