Metro Changers

A video introduction to Metro Changers. The agency is transforming neighborhoods and people across the metropolitan area — both home residents and volunteers:

"We’ll recruit volunteers from our area and beyond," says Butch Henderson, BBA associate executive director.

"This can be a customized missions opportunity for churches, civic and educational organizations — anyone interested in community development and eliminating substandard housing in the area."

Churches can adopt a home for a weekend project, a few months of work, or even a long term mission, going beyond the construction needs to taking on the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the family within the house.

Funding for the renovations comes from the city, with house applications being processed and approved through the office of community development. Butch looks forward to the avenues of service that the partnership will open.

"It will provide opportunities for our churches — Sunday Schools, Baptist Men’s groups, Women’s Ministries, and more — to act on the Acts 1:8 Challenge with respect to the Jerusalem Journey," he says.

John Mark Owen, the youth pastor at Central Park Baptist Church, is serving as the project manager for Metro Changers.

He has been involved with construction missions ever since growing up as a missionary kid in Guatemala. For the past several years he has volunteered with local World Changer projects. John Mark particularly likes the way it becomes easy to talk with homeowners about spiritual issues when working on their houses.

"It’s a challenging experience; I enjoy doing it," John Mark says. "We need to reach out to Birmingham, instead of pulling out. We need to step up and take accountability."

He says it is an easy way to help people who cannot do things for themselves, due to illness, finances, or lack of family. He has also seen it change the lives of municipal officials involved in the program.