The Knock at the Door
by Jeff Haines  

Many of you have noticed and commented on the new sanctuary doors in the narthex. The trustees decided to install the new doors for two reasons. First, the frame of the old set was quite forlorn and unattractive, and we also wanted anyone who visited our church for the first time to be able to easily locate the sanctuary. As we anticipated, there has been interest expressed in continuing to replace the rest of the doors to the sanctuary. These include the other double set in the narthex, the double set to Homer hall and the door at the back near the soundboard. These remaining doors would be replaced with oak doors to match the first new set but will not have glass in them. The trustees unanimously agreed that, if at all possible, we would like for this to happen.

As many of you know, this type of work is my profession. I was happy to donate the labor to fabricate, stain, finish and install the first set of doors. My employees even took part in making the doors a reality. As it became evident that I would be asked if I was interested in doing the work on the remaining doors I was struck with an idea. I feel that this idea can make our new sanctuary doors all about ministry. About a year ago, through a Walk to Emmaus retreat weekend, I became fast friends with Peter and Carol Loveland who attend the Waterloo UMC. Pete and Carol are both retired schoolteachers. They have become involved with a program called The Haiti Connection Mitspa School. The United Methodist churches of Lansing , Waterloo , Dryden and Pulaski support this mission. The mission supports three Christian schools in Haiti . Without sponsors from a mission like this, many children do not attend school. Children who are sponsored also get a meal at school. For many of them it is their only meal of the day.

As I have gotten to know Pete and Carol and have listened to their stories about Haiti , I have felt God tugging at my heart to go on one of their annual visits to Haiti . They go to check on the well being of the students that have been sponsored and to learn of needs for the coming year. I am not yet sure of how my skills will be put to work but there are always needs for improvements to the school buildings.

What I am proposing is that the Church “hires” my company to install the remaining doors. The proposed donations will pay for materials and labor. After materials are paid for, all remaining funds would be used to pay for my mission trip to Haiti . The cost of the door project is $2850.00. The end result will make our church building more attractive and bring hope to the lives of children who desperately need it.

The goal is to have the funds in place by mid July so the work could be completed before the fall season begins.  If you feel led to improve the doors of the sanctuary, or if you are led to support the The Haiti Connection Mitspa School, please consider making a contribution to make both of these things happen.