Colorado partnership gains steam thanks to Bethel Baptist Church

By Staff

May 2, 2006

ELIZABETH, Colo.—A group of 24 volunteers from Bethel Baptist Church in Independence spent their spring break ministering to a home for unwed mothers in Colorado.

The Doud House is located in Elizabeth, a town of 1,400 about 25 minutes southeast of Denver. The volunteers worked on rehabbing a home for the ministry of Unbridled Acts, which is currently ministering to pregnant teenage girls in Colorado.

“When we first called out to Colorado, our plan was to travel out during the summer to do some sort of missions effort. I figured we’d do VBS or something like that,” Bethel Pastor Jim McMechan said. “But God definitely moved on our hearts for this project. He knew that this ministry needed help and they needed it now, so our folks responded in a big way. I am so proud of how they stepped up to the plate.”

Bethel put the trip together in less than eight weeks. The missions committee organized the details for the trip. The church gave generously to support the effort.

“There were lots of phone calls back and forth,” one volunteer said.

The team spent two days doing every kind of remodeling task imaginable. They sheet-rocked walls, laid flooring, painted rooms and hung 27 doors. The house, which is over 4,400 square feet, contains seven bedrooms. A host family will stay on one side of the home while four girls will each have their own quarters. The teens will receive schooling and medical assistance during their pregnancy. Most importantly, they will receive the spiritual support that they need for what can be a very difficult time.

The Douds, the original owners of the home, had spent many years raising foster children, and it was always their desire to see their home continue to be used for ministry purposes.

“There is a wonderful legacy of faithfulness here,” said Joe Bowman, director of the Doud house. “The Douds loved the Lord with all their heart. They’d be so pleased to see how things have turned out.”

The Bowmans, Joe and Judy and their two children will act as house parents to the teens living in the home. “The effort that the folks from Missouri gave while they were here was remarkable,” Joe Bowman said. “They worked so hard. We couldn’t have done it without them. Words simply can’t express our gratitude.”

The Doud house hopes to have the entire facility finished for a June 3 opening.