2201 East Prairie               
Decatur, IL 62521                                A Disciples of Christ Congregation                               

Miracle Day (August 29, 2009)

Miracle Day was a one day mission event sponsored by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Illinois and Wisconsin (Website:www.cciwdisciples.org). Prairie Avenue Christian Church served as the host congregation for the Decatur Miracle Day (Glen Oak Christian Church in Peoria and First Christian Church of Mt. Carmel, IL also were sites). Twenty homeowners in the Clokey Park, Nelson Park, and Lion's Park neighborhoods of Decatur received free repairs on their homes from volunteers both locally and from Disciples of Christ congregation throughout Illinois. Local congregations assisting included Westminster Presbyterian Church and  First United Methodist Church of Decatur. The event is modeled from Operation Inasmuch (Website: www.operationinasmuch.com). 

Donated dumpsters from Waste Management arrive at church parking lot Friday, August 28.

One of the homes prior to Miracle Day 2009

Miracle Day signs were placed at each site to identify the address for the crews to arrive.

Volunteers gather in Fellowship Hall for the day's events.

Volunteers drink coffee, muffins, and danish prior to a full day of work!

Registration

Some of the supplies for the day are divided into containers to take to the sites.

Westminster Presbyterian crew gathers to discuss their project.

Volunteers gather for the opening worship.

A property line full of trees greets one work crew.

Volunteers begin cleaning up yard debris.

Even the neighbor's grandson begins to help clear away.

Workers remove trees and shrubs.

A volunteer from First Christian Church, Paris, IL trims away.

Work on a porch and bedroom ceiling begins here.

Volunteers remove items for disposal.

Even the grandson gets a t-shirt for helping.

Painting window and trim with the help of volunteers from First United Methodist Church, Decatur, IL

The Westminster Presbyterian Church volunteers work on the porch.

Volunteers paint windows and trim.

Volunteers working on the many windows.

Trim has fresh paint.

Window work continues.

Volunteers remove a damaged fence and place new fence posts.

Yard work continues.

The fence posts are waiting for the fence sections.

Volunteers gather yard debris.

Prairie Avenue's own Joy Witt rakes the yard.

A house is painting by volunteers from Central Christian Church, Decatur, IL

A porch is the process of being repaired.

Homeowner is pleased with the work on her house.

Volunteers from Central Christian Church, Decatur, IL add final touches.

The porch's damaged sections are repaired and strengthened.

The homeowner is pleased with the progress.

New outdoor carpet is installed on stairs.

Crew works to repair and paint porch and pillars.

Crew works on finishing the job.

The windows are almost complete.

The garage is repaired and is being painted.

New stair treads help this homeowner.

Another view of the repaired stair treads.

Volunteers gather to paint and repair this homeowner's garage.

Fresh paint ready to be spread.

A new door on the garage is installed.

Westminster Presbyterian Church project nears completion.

The ceiling is replaced in a homeowner's bedroom.

Closing worship concludes with Communion.