Reprinted with permission from the Greenville Advocate, January 9, 2007

Bond County Habitat for Humanity conducted a ground breaking ceremony Saturday morning in Greenville for construction of its fourth home.

Happy Day for Habitat: Victoria Stone (right), who has been selected as the occupant for the fourth Bond County Habitat For Humanity Home, and Rev. Doug Newton, pastor at the Greenville Free Methodist Church, participate in the groundbreaking ceremony Saturday morning at the site for the new home on North Fourth street in Greenville.

Stone came to Greenville in May of 2005 after her husband died while they were living in Reno, Nevada. She was urged by her brother-in-law, Gary Stone and his wife, Toni, to join them in Greenville.

Victoria Stone is a custodian at Greenville College.

Barb Wrisberg, member of the Habitat For Humanity Family Selection Committee, stated, "Every year we pray and pray to get that one special applicant and we found her. She moved to Greenville to be close to her family."

Wrisberg added, "Her family is the one who read it in the newspaper and encouraged her to apply."

Stone stated, "I'm really grateful. It's unbelievable. I thank all of the people for being so kind to me."

Pastor Dave Trover, chairman of the local Habitat chapter, commented, "This is a special build that's going to be taking place and there's going to be a lot of people with a lot of different organizations (involved)."

The construction of the new home will be a partnership between Bond County Habitat For Humanity, Greenville College, Greenville Free Methodist Church, Hillsboro Free Methodist Church, and St. Paul's Free Methodist Church in Greenville.

Under the guidelines of the Habitat For Humanity home building program, Stone will have to provide "sweat equity" (labor) in the construction of her new home.

Trover announced that Richard Zbinden sold the property to Habitat For Humanity and gave a "good price on the property."

He also commended Jerry wall, Robert Ellsworth and Wall Real Estate for being a corporate sponsor and donating their commission on the sale of the lot.

Greenville Mayor Alan Gaffner stated that the city once again will do whatever is legally possible to assist regarding fees for the land and home.

He stated he is pleased to see the chapter's fourth home will soon be a reality. "The ability to provide affordable and accessible founding, especially in existing neighborhoods, I believe is very important because it keeps those neighborhoods very vibrant," the mayor told those gathered at the site.

Gaffner continued that this allows new homes to be built in neighborhoods where some of the other houses are over 100 years old.

Greenville College President Dr. James Mannoia said that the idea of the college and Free Methodist churches becoming involved in a Habitat For Humanity project has been discussed for a period of 18 months.

"When the Lord is in something, anything is possible," he stated. "You can have vision, but vision isn't enough unless you have people who are willing to come alongside. I'm delighted, not only because this will provide a home for someone in need, but I think it has the benefit of drawing together those people who are involved."

Mannoia said about the Free Methodist congregations, "We do share a common heritage of caring about the poor and unless we act together and do something about it, then what's the point of that heritage. I'm grateful for not only what it will do for the people who live in this home someday, but what it does for all of us who partner."

Habitat For Humanity Announces New Project: Dave Trover (right), chairman of the Bond County Habitat For Humanity committee, introduces three of the individuals who are leading the effort for the construction of the organization's fourth home in Greenville. They are (l-r) Rev. Randy Sands, Rev. Doug Newton and Dr. James Mannoia. The Free Methodist churches in Greenville and Hillsboro, and Greenville College are partnering with the local chapter. The home is to be built this year in the 400 block of North Fourth Street. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Saturday morning.

Pastor Doug Newton, from the Greenville Free Methodist Church, stated, "The Lord is opening up an opportunity for not just our church, but for our whole community. This community has a long heritage of caring service and very active people."

Newton added he sees this project as a "seed opportunity" for his congregation. "We're growing in our passion for the needs of people, and when we plant these kinds of seeds, we know it's going to grow into even greater passion for the needs of people."

Rev. Randy Sands from the Hillsboro Free Methodist Church said he wants to be a part of the project for two reasons.

He said that since he has been in Hillsboro, a new church has been built plus a family life center as been added.

Sands wants to participate in the Habitat home building as a "thank you" to the Lord for what has occurred at his church.

Members of the Hillsboro congregation are prepared to work on the new house, Sands commented.

He also homes that this will spur similar Habitat For Humanity activity in Montgomery county. "We have a big need in our area as well," Rev. Sands commented.

After the ground blessing was conducted Saturday morning at the new site, Stone was joined by Rev. Newton and Mannoia in the ground breaking ceremony.

The first three Bond County Habitat For Humanity homes were build in Greenville.

The first is along Franklin Avenue. The other two are near the intersection of Hena Street and Vine Avenue.

Members of the Habitat For Humanity Committee are Trover, Ben Kettelkamp, Roger and Anita Marcoot, Joe Culumber, Pat Harris, Deb Runyon, Allison Sears, Max Sussenbach, Julie Rathbone, Wrisberg and Patrice White.