Hurricane Helene ripped thrugh Bob and Edwina Tatum’s hometown of 200 people, swelling the once-peaceful stream behind the couple’s Minneapolis, North Carolina, house into a destructive river.
The torrent swept away everything in its path, including the Tatums’ home of 46 years.
The couple wasn’t sure where to turn for help or where they’d live in the days following the storm. They certainly didn’t have the money to begin rebuilding where they’d lived together for nearly five decades.
Then, earlier this year, after months of living at the home of Edwina’s 95-year-old mother, they received a call from Luther Harrison, vice president of U.S. Rebuild at Samaritan’s Purse.
Just months later, at a Dec. 1 ceremony, Rebuild staff and volunteers joined Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham, along with the couple’s friends and family, to welcome them to their new home built by Samaritan’s Purse.
“Today we come to dedicate this to the glory of God and to thank Him,” Graham said. “All of this comes from Him.”
Graham thanked the scores of volunteers and the members of our U.S. Rebuild staff who took part in the construction of the Tatums’ home.
“We just thank God for every person who worked on this,” he said. “Behind all this paint and nice siding, people have written their Bible verses on the studs, so this house is covered in God’s Word.”
During the ceremony, the couple received an invoice with the words “PAID IN FULL” printed across it in large red letters–a framed document presented to families that confirms the house is a free gift and serves as a reminder of God’s love through Jesus Christ.
During the ceremony, Luther Harrison praised God for the opportunity He’s provided to helping hurting people in the region and for the many volunteers who continue to show up and rebuild homes.
“God sent His workers to be the hands and feet of Jesus to build this beautiful home that they can call theirs for the rest of their life here on this earth,” Harrison said. “And we already know they have a strong witness for Jesus Christ. And their testimony was just shared in many ways today.”
Bob recounted receiving the call from Samaritan’s Purse in the midst of not knowing what their next steps would be.
“It just hit me. I was shocked,” Bob said. “[Luther Harrison] asked me what we wanted [in our house]. So, I told him. He said, ‘Done.’ When I hung up with him, I just looked at Edwina and she looked at me and I just said, ‘Ain’t God good?’”
As they celebrated their new home, they also celebrated God’s provision and the love of Jesus Christ shown through the volunteers.
“God is so good. We never lost heart,” Bob said. “I watched every step of it. The quality’s great. I’ve never seen that kind of foundation, with all the concrete and materials they used. Samaritan’s Purse does not do anything halfway.”
The Tatums also received a Billy Graham Training Center Bible with signatures from all the volunteers who worked on their home. Edwina said the volunteers were a blessing to them well beyond the gift of their new dwelling.
“They are really great representations of their Lord and Savior,” she said. “Generous to the max, loving to the max, providing, comforting. Every person who touched any part of building our house, I want them to know that their representation of the Lord Jesus Christ represents God to everyone. They’ve been such blessings. So uplifting.
“We give God the glory. He’s never late. He’s never early. He’s right on time all the time. Thank you all again for being here. God bless Samaritan’s Purse.”
