Bland’s Community Transformation Ministries offers crisis support

By Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Posted 3/11/20

BLAND — Three churches in the Bland have come together to form the non-profit Community Transformation Ministry group to help with crisis situations.

Three of the four churches in the Bland …

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Bland’s Community Transformation Ministries offers crisis support

Posted

BLAND — Three churches in the Bland have come together to form the non-profit Community Transformation Ministry group to help with crisis situations.

Three of the four churches in the Bland city limits are represented in the organization, Zion Church, Open Door and the Baptist Church.

“We are setting up a crisis response team,” Jim Krause told aldermen. “We are going to set up some kits for if people’s houses burn down, tornados, that kind of stuff.”

Their mission statement is, “to provide emergency response aid inthe event of local or national crisis and to revitalize communities by improving the quality of life by transforming the lives, properties and businesses through sharing the love of Jesus Christ.”

The non-profit board is made up of Krause, Briana Decker, Rhonda Drewel and Linda Guidry.

“I know there is a history of the churches being competitive here,” Decker told the board. “But we are working together on this.”

Decker is from Owensville, but goes to Zion Church.

“I love the way that Open Door, Zion and the Baptist Church can all come together as one for the community of Bland,” Decker said. “We prayer walk around Bland every Saturday morning at 8 a.m. and pray for city hall almost every Saturday. We know God is going to transform this community and it is just going to blow our socks off. We truly believe that and just can’t wait to see how he moves.”

Krause said they are just getting started and will be reaching out to the fire departments soon.

“If somebody knows or hears of something like that happening, give us a call,” Krause said before warning the aldermen that the kits are set up yet, but will be soon. “We are working on that process.”

The group also started a community garden and is currently working to till the dirt. He thinks it may be more in line with a fall garden by the time they get the weeds taken care of.

“I think that’s just great,” Alderman Sherry Spradling said.

Krause said they are looking for volunteers to help with the garden.

“If anyone wants to take that on or be in charge of it,” Krause said. “If anybody has any inkling that they want to do something like that, we are going to do it.”

Decker said they will start small and see how it goes.

“We know there will probably be theft, but if those people need food, then as long as they eat it and are not destroying the garden, we say ‘go for it,’” she said.

Krause said they are going to try to help people with their properties, tearing down old buildings and dilapidated homes, maybe even the old Christian Church.

“We will try to assist any way we can to try to better Bland,” Krause said. “You guys have the new water system going, the new fire department and we are just trying to build on that.”

Krause said it is a different view than going to the government or law enforcement and encourages community involvement.

Any board member can accept donations, which are currently being filtered through the Zion Evangelical Church until the non-profit paperwork is complete and recognized by the Secretary of State’s office. Funds will be transferred to the non-profit later.