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Acknowledging God's hand and thanking Him for
the many details and people that miraculously
came together for the building of the Jackson house.
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During the dedication ceremony for the new Jackson house, we felt humbled and thankful to God for the provisions and volunteers that
made the Jackson house a home again. We anxiously awaited to hear how Mr. and Mrs.
Jackson felt after the dedication and the exciting "Big Reveal" where the keys to their newly built and furnished home were handed to them, are were not surprised to hear that they give all the glory to the
Lord for His goodness to them.
Mr. Jackson freely shared from his heart that
this experience has taught him to trust God with everything, to be patient, and
to be thankful. He said that when he opens a kitchen cabinet, or moves laundry
into the dryer, or sits at his desk in the study he often says, “Thank you!”
out loud. The day after they moved in, he sat at the dining room table and thought back
over the past five years... all God had brought them through and how He had made
a way for them to have a home again. He thought of how they had been protected
in the tornado that took so many lives, how God connected CSM with them, how a
house came available for them to live in while the new house was being built
and how so many people came together on their behalf to make sure every detail
was covered. He said that as he was thanking God for these blessings, a tear
dropped in his coffee.
When Mrs. Jackson was asked to tell her favorite thing
about the house, she said, “Everything!” with a big smile. The house is
particularly meaningful to her because she grew up in the original house and
the new house is constructed on the original family property. She also said
that she still has the feeling that it is not real and that they are just
visiting. She said that she has to pinch Mr. Jackson so he will quit “crying in his coffee.” They both feel words are completely inadequate to express their
gratitude to everyone involved and are convinced it will best be lived out in
the way they begin to turn around and minister to others.
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Shades Mountain Baptist Church worked tirelessly and
joyfully to furnish, decorate, and clean the Jackson house.
At the dedication, they presented a family Bible as a gift
to the family to commemorate the day. |
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Felicia Watkins – ARCH Exec. Dir. (Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless)
worked with CSM as a resource partner to build a new
home for the Jacksons where their original house once stood.
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| Felicia gives the keys to Mrs. Jackson |
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| A day of kindness, gratitude, and celebration |
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Mr. Jackson (with Jamie Barnhart) was already overwhelmed
before the family had even seen the inside of the house. |
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The family was first welcomed by this "Mantle of Remembrance,"
which was removed from the original house before the
demolition crew came in and refinished for the new house. |
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Original house in 1964 (top image) and the day CSM came to discuss
replacing the damaged and uninhabitable house for them (lower image). |
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| Master bath |
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| Hall bathroom |
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| Study |
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| Living room |
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| Living room |
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| Kitchen |
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| Dining room |
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| Master Bedroom |
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| Second bedroom |
