This is Part 3 of a 7-part series featuring Pikes Peak Habitat Interfaith Build for Unity subcommittee members, who discuss their faith community’s involvement in creating an interfaith unity bench for 3rd IBU homeowner Jessica.
Kymm Hockman from First United Methodist Church Prairie Campus shares why her congregation participated in the bench project.
We always try to support Habitat every chance we get, especially with the Interfaith work. This was just one more (and tangible) way to connect and help out.
It’s fun to see what everyone else does and see the cool result as a diverse, yet meaningful piece of functional art!
I put on the outline of the gummy bears, then took the boards to church with paint crayons. I asked everyone I could to color a gummy bear, starting with kids and youth. All was done in just one or two Sundays (I don’t recall, but it was quick). On the other board I asked folks to write “Love Each Other” in their own handwriting. That’s our church motto.
Our church is very welcoming to ALL, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community. We are a healing place for anyone who might have been hurt by other churches. And we are just a faithful bunch of Christians who loves connecting with what’s important in our community. Our “symbol of inclusion” is a set of cute, colorful gummy bears. So the one board is covered with colorful gummy bears. Our church “swag” says “Love Each Other” — sweatshirts, T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, etc. So the other board bears that phrase in many different colors and handwritings. It’s a message for ALL!
We just hope Jessica LOVES her new home and has a chance to relax on this bench to just enjoy the view and life a bit. We hope the bench blesses her and her family.
Read more about the IBU bench from Pikes Peak Habitat’s spring print newsletter! You can also read part 1 of this series, an interview with Jeff Mawhirter of Christ City Church, and part 2, an interview with Jeff Ader of Temple Beit Torah.
