How a multi-faith project can affirm your faith

A team of 38 volunteers of various faiths are to travel to India this summer to build homes for people in need.

Volunteers with the Bermuda Overseas Missions (BOM) are taking part in a Habitat for Humanity International (Habitat) project in Kerala, where many homes do not have electricity or running water.

BOM was formed in 2006 and has since undertaken projects for Habitat in underdeveloped countries around the world.

Outreach

David Thompson, BOM president, said: “Our mission is to provide the people of Bermuda, from all backgrounds, ages and faiths, an opportunity to make a difference in our world by addressing global issues and by building houses in countries where a critical need exists.

“We strive to build bridges of cultural awareness, develop new friendships and to renew our faith by committing to help our fellow man and woman, both overseas and in Bermuda, with practical caring actions.”

BOM started at Christ Church in Warwick and now includes people of different faiths across the island.

Mr Thompson told the Bermuda Sun: “The charity started out as a church-led mission but we decided to make it a community initiative.

“We still have links with the church but are a separate charity and try to appeal to all faiths, including the agnostic.

“It is one of the fundamentals of anyone’s faith to help their fellow man.

“I’m a firm believer in outreach, that a church is not just a place to go on Sunday to worship but that it’s what you do for your fellow man in the community and around the world which matters.

“I like to see faith transformed into action. When we take these groups we do have prayers and do bless the homes we build, but we don’t force anyone to be a part of that.

“I have Jews and Gentiles, Christians and Muslims on these trips; it’s a cross-section of Bermuda.” Mr Thompson said that on one BOM trip to Bolivia, the Reverend Alan Garrity of Christ Church held a Bible class to encourage volunteers to link their personal experiences on the project to their faith.

He said: “I was surprised to see up to 30 people come to the meeting, all of different faiths. So this sends a message to people that you have to have a belief, and doing something like this brings people together.”

This year’s volunteers include students from CedarBridge Academy, the Berkeley Institute, Saltus Grammar School and Warwick Academy. The youngest is 14 and the oldest volunteer is over-60.

Mr Thompson said: “We are excited about our trip to southern India. The sub-continent mission will offer an amazing opportunity for our volunteers to assist families in need and at the same time, it offers the adventure of a lifetime. 

“With 60 per cent of our volunteers being local students, this type of charitable giving is something that will impact the lives of these young Bermudians for many years to come.”

In previous years BOM has built houses for the needy in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Botswana, Zambia and Romania. It has provided homes for 80 families — more than 400 people. Tonight, the charity is holding a fundraising Fish Fry at Christ Church, Warwick, from 4pm. ‘Keith’s Kitchen’ will dish up fish, fries, peas and rice, coleslaw, dessert and a soft drink.

On June 22, the charity is holding ‘BOM Goes Bollywood’. This featured food from the House of India and a DJ playing Indian music. People are encouraged to dress in Bollywood-style.

The event takes place at the Bermuda High School for Girls, from 7pm.

Mr Thompson said 100 per cent of the fundraising will go towards the Kerala trip, and will assist disadvantaged students to take part. 

“Volunteers contribute their own labour — or sweat equity — and funds raised help to pay for construction materials and the cost of building homes for these impoverished families,” he said.

For more information on the Fish Fry, call 504-2114. To help BOM, call 295-1078/705-4600.