Social - November 2003

Retired minister carves dreams into realities

By DIANE TURBYFILL, Staff Writer

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Joe Ervin’s tools of the trade can be purchased at a hardware store.

The retired minister turns to power tools to construct buildings, homes and faith.

Ervin ministered at Boger City United Methodist Church for 16 years prior to retirement. In that time he headed up several Habitat for Humanity projects and worked continuously on a piece of property in Hayesville called Hinton Rural Life Center.

The center is a mission agency that works with small churches and hosts an annual meeting of the board of directors and various retreats.

Ervin was recently recognized for his tireless efforts in the construction of the center and most recently of a retreat home which now stands on the property.

To Ervin, he was supporting a ministry and following his faith.

“I put in the time because of the great work they do there — the ministry,” he says. “During the summer months they’ll have an excess of 1,200 young people.”

Each summer youth groups gather at the center to do mission work. Ervin says they help make improvements to homes for people in need.

The youth program he describes resembles Ervin’s actions over the years.

Ervin helped renovate the center and assisted in the construction of the chapel, administrative building, dining hall and a retreat home — now named the Joe Ervin Retreat House.

The retreat home — which was dedicated in his honor in October — has 11 bedrooms, a kitchen and meeting rooms.

Ervin has also worked on other building projects.

He talks about his strong dedication to Habitat for Humanity.

“I love the people … translating their dreams into realities,” he says.

Ervin has also helped in the construction of area churches like Tuckers Grove, Ebeneezer and St. James.

The active volunteer says constructing buildings for charitable causes is an incredibly rewarding experience. It is a perfect way to make a contribution to society and achieve a sense of fulfillment, he says.

Even in retirement, he continues to be a driving force in such projects.

Ask him and he might humbly deny it — as he dashes to Home Depot to buy supplies for his next undertaking.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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