Minister welcomed into 'house God built'

Swarms of people crowded South Hanover Street on Saturday to welcome the Rev. Johnny Thomas home. As barbecue smoke filled the air and a gospel choir resonated, a cross-section of the city gathered to dedicate a home they refer to as "the house God built."

Eight months ago, well-known South Cape pastor Johnny Thomas was forced out of his home by black mold. Challenged by a service project to complete the near-impossible, members of La Croix United Methodist Church volunteered to rebuild the house from the ground up. They had worked before with Thomas and his church, New Bethel Baptist Church, through an outreach program.

Toiling often into the night, volunteers completed the project entirely through donations, and Thomas has become a symbol of the compassion of neighbors.

"I have never seen a group of Christians come together like this with this project. It's good for the world, it's good for the city to see," Thomas said.

While Thomas picked the floor plan and watched the progression from the street, Saturday was his first day allowed inside.

As he broke through a red ribbon across the front porch, Thomas entered to cheers, applause and shouts of "welcome home." He was silent taking off his sunglasses. He first gravitated to a mantle over the stone fireplace. The mantle, made from a beam from the original house, was carved with "The House God Built" in cursive. He whistled as he noticed black-and-white framed photographs of himself, his wife, Earlean, and granddaughter Asia near the entryway.

In the kitchen, as he ran his hands over the marble countertop and Earlean peeked in the new stainless steel fridge, a tear started to form. His mouth opened and closed, but all he could do was shake his head.

People gathered on Hanover Street and joined hands in prayer during the dedication of "the house God built." Volunteers rebuilt the home of the Rev. Johnny Thomas, who was forced out of the original home because of mold. AARON EISENHAUER aeisenhauer@ semissourian.com

While he and his wife explored their new master suite, double-sink bathroom and a closet rivaling the size of a small bedroom, Asia ran upstairs to see her room.

"I love it," she declared.

"I like the Scripture on the wall, the walk-in closet. This is amazing," she said, before running to find a cousin.

Earlean Thomas murmured she knew the project would be nice but "not this nice."

The project brought together Thomas' New Bethel Baptist Church's predominately black congregation with La Croix's majority-white congregation. Members from both churches spoke Saturday about bridging a racial, economic and social divide. They also expressed a need to continue "knitting together" despite the house being finished.

"There is no black and white when we all come together and work for God," said Tennie Rust, a member of La Croix. Like several other members, she emphasized the project was not about one person.

Drawn by prayers blasted over loudspeakers and a crowd circling the house, neighbors emerged from their doors to join the event. Thomas preaches in the area and knows most residents and their children by name. An exterior door was installed off his office so Thomas can counsel from his home. He has already taken his story to prisons to teach about the power of faith.

"Just one year ago, I had no idea that a year later I would be standing here," he said.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

Were you there?

Does this affect you?

Have a comment?

Log on to semisourian.com/today