Del City Nazarene Church gets help through district ‘churches helping churches’ ministry

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

Del City Nazarene Church is receiving hands-on repair and restoration work through a new initiative led by the Oklahoma District Church of the Nazarene.

The program is designed to strengthen congregations through cooperation across the region.

The effort is part of what district leaders describe as a “ministry response network,” bringing together volunteers from multiple churches to assist with roof repairs, siding work and general maintenance at congregations across Oklahoma.
Lance Pound, a contractor with the Oklahoma District Church of the Nazarene, said the program is designed to replace isolation with shared support among congregations.

“The Oklahoma District Church of the Nazarene just created what they’re calling a ministry response network where churches in the district can get help. We have kids and teenagers and people working on the foyer inside and working out here, and you know, just trying to help churches, helping churches is what we’re trying to do,” Pound said. “Instead of all the churches being lone rangers out there, we work together, help, just trying to work and help support each other and build each other up and try and work on our properties. It’s just opening doors.”

Pound said crews from across the state have been involved in the work, including volunteers from Guymon, Tishomingo, Bethany, and Calumet.

Crews are working on the main church building, the Radley building, as well as a home owned by the church.

“So, there was roof damage to the church before, and we’re in the process of replacing the roofs,” Pound said. “This roof was replaced yesterday, and we’re doing the siding on it today, and Monday they’ll start on that roof, and the church’s roof, and we’re just slowly working our way through, weather permitting, obviously.”

He added that the effort is driven by a broader mission.

“We’re just trying to be the hands and feet of God and Christ, and just churches helping churches is what we’re trying to do, and just trying to bless each other,” he said.

Del City Nazarene Church Pastor Vera Radley said the volunteer labor has significantly reduced costs and allowed more work to be completed than would have been possible otherwise.

“If we had to hire somebody, we would probably could have only done one roof,” Radley said.

The restoration work follows storm-related damage sustained by the church in recent years, according to church leaders, and is expected to continue as weather allows.

The effort was marked Saturday with a community block party at the church, featuring food, games and family activities as volunteers and residents gathered to celebrate the progress.

The event included hamburgers and hot dogs, a cake walk, face painting and more. Radley said the celebration was intended to bring the community together while highlighting the ongoing repairs.