The Great Wall of Ocala

Posted @ Jan. 20 2012 07:28AM by JohnS - lifestyle

Local church partners with Habitat for Humanity for largest wall raising in Marion County history

Ocala - A local church is not holding its regular Sunday services in order to serve the community on Sunday, February 5, 2012. Instead of going to church, over 700 people will be spending their Sunday morning partnering with 20 local organizations to meet needs in Marion County--including raising the walls of a home for the Tanelus family of eight through Habitat for Humanity, (1676 NW 19th Street, Ocala) said Emily Cummins, from Church of Hope.

Walls of Hope:
Since its beginning, Church of Hope has partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Marion County. In three short years, Church of Hope has given over $144,000 to Habitat for Humanity and will be raising the walls of its fourth house on Sunday, February 5th.

Habitat for Humanity of Marion County’s mission is “Putting God’s love into action in Marion County by strengthening communities, building hope and providing dignified housing solutions through partnership and empowerment”. They will cap off their day as they participate in the wall raising on Feb. 5, 2012, making this the largest wall raising Habitat for Humanity of Marion County has ever hosted.

About 3G Sunday:
Church of Hope launched “3G Sunday” on April 5, 2009 and has grown to over 700 people who, instead of going to church that day, they Gather for communion in their parking lot then Go throughout Marion County to Give of their service with their many organizations and municipalities.
This year they painted, cleaned, cleared brush, prayed, cooked, gave blood, built, and visited with nursing home residents and veterans for 21 organizations and municipalities throughout Marion County. Hope will partner with Habitat, ARC, Boys and Girls Club, City of Ocala, Feed the Need Garden, Interfaith, Kimberly’s Cottage, Project Hope, Shepards Lighthouse, Skill Day Center, The Centers, The Windsor, Vets for Vets, Women’s Pregnancy Center, Xtreme Soultions, Oakhurst Nursing Home, and Shocker Park.,

A Super Bowl Sunday 2012:
3G Sunday will take place on Super Bowl Sunday--Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012. Church of Hope will be meeting at the Church of Hope campus at 8:30 a.m. before heading out to different projects across Marion County.

To end the day, Church of Hope will be raising the walls of its fourth home with Habitat for Humanity. This wall raising will mark the largest wall raising Habitat for Humanity of Marion County has ever hosted.

“The singular purpose of Church of Hope is to partner with people to discover in Christ we have Hope,” said Dr. Mark Cummins, the Pastor of Church of Hope. “I’m excited to see what God does on Sunday, February 5th!”

For many people, Feb. 5, 2012 signifies a great day in the game of football. However, for thousands of people in Marion County, Feb. 5, 2012 will signify a day of hope. And for the Tanelus family of eight, Feb. 5, 2012 will signify a new beginning.

For more information on Church of HOPE, please call (352) 369-4673.

For more information on Habitat for Humanity of Marion County, please call (352) 351-4663.