It’s been a blessed couple of weeks for the Peace and Goodwill Baptist Church on Mulberry Avenue in western Anniston. First, thousands of bees were removed from the church’s hallowed walls by an act of kindness of the part of a volunteer named Kim Moore.
Now, through another act of kindness, the 100-year-old church is getting a new coat of white paint for its trim, and new siding.
As part of Habitat for Humanity’s Jimmy Carter Work Project, the church is being refurbished, along with some two dozen homes in what was one of Anniston’s more notorious neighborhoods.
Pastor Gus Orr walked through the sanctuary and pointed out the “new” used pews, which he bought from a nearby church early one recent morning. The stained glass windows have been in the church longer than anyone can say, and they radiated purple, green and red in the in the mid-morning sun.
“It’s quite a blessing, it’ll make everything look so great,” Orr said.
He’s a tall man who exudes respect and kindness. His presence garners attention, as does the “Got Jesus?” hat he wears.
The congregation has been making progress in refurbishing the church over the past five years, but these exterior improvements are creating a stir in the community.
“We’re just so excited about it,” said Associate Pastor Billy Harris.
“Don’t you know it,” Orr added.
Bill Wright, the former executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Calhoun County, rested his legs in the shade just down the street from the church. He listened to the constant hum of home improvement.
He said it was part of Habitat’s goal to move beyond just home refurbishing and into neighborhood revitalization as well.
“We are, for all intents and purposes, renovating the neighborhood,” Wright said. “Almost 40 houses have been torn down, and we’re talking about a complete package here.”
Orr hasn’t decided his sermon for Sunday, but there might be a mention of Jesus, the carpenter.
“I’ll remind the parishioners of what’s going on and how appreciative they should be,” Orr said, leaning on a pew.
