NEW IBERIA, La. (KLFY) — As a part of their ongoing Model City Mission, volunteers with Church of Christ in New Iberia are painting and renovating homes for local residents at no cost.

Kenny Wright, a minister at Church of Christ, says the church is making a lasting impact, one home at a time.

“We do work throughout the year in the community,” said Wright. “It came from God’s calling about relationships with him and with each other, and rather than just come to church and talk about it, we do anything we can to be in our community, serving alongside our friends and neighbors, and making New Iberia a better place to live.”

Wright says this mission has been a part of the community since 2017. He says around 50 kids, including those from New Iberia and out of state, including Houston, Oregon and Oklahoma, help paint and renovate four to five homes each summer.

“We had kids coming in from Houston, Texas, we had groups from Oregon, we’ve had groups here from Oklahoma, all over the Texas area to come in,” said Wright. “They come in yearly because they know we’re serving the community.”

Wright also says this also shows people the youth can be involved in their community, without always being labeled as less active.

“The narrative out there today for a lot of people is the younger generation really doesn’t want to do anything,” said Wright. “These were kids who were paid to come help, to help with supplies and things like that, they’re giving up a week of vacation time to be out in this Louisiana heat, to serve people.”

Wright says this act of kindness proves church members can come together, love God and show genuine care for their communities.

“It’s an opportunity to live it and experience people from across the street, from across the Bayou, from across town, from out of state, coming together for something bigger than ourselves and realize we’re part of something that helps make the world, makes the country, makes the state, makes our city a better place to be,” said Wright.

Latest news