Year 3 - 2014

The Big One – A Team Holland House Makeover

Team Holland had gathered at a small home tucked into an older part of town—raking leaves, trimming hedges, doing what they always did in November: serve with love in honor of Matt Holland’s legacy.

This project was bigger than the first two years.  One of our Team Holland members was serving this homeowner in another way when she quietly invited him inside, he saw what no one expected—floors that were crumbling, walls stained with time, roof that tired, and a spirit of weariness heavy in the air.

That volunteer didn’t just see a house in need. He saw a calling.

What started as yard work suddenly became a full-blown home makeover—the biggest project Team Holland had ever taken on. Over the course of one powerful weekend, more than 70 people came to serve. Carpenters, painters, plumbers, and people who’d never picked up a tool in their life—all united by a shared purpose: to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Floors were replaced. Ceilings patched and painted. Walls got fresh color, and new light fixtures brought warmth into dim rooms. Furniture was donated, meals were shared, prayers were whispered, and strangers became a community. It wasn’t just the house that was transformed. It was the people.

Veteran volunteers watched newcomers find their rhythm. Teens worked side-by-side with retirees. Some came with skills, others came with only a willing heart—but all gave selflessly.

And somewhere in the middle of sawdust and shared stories, the presence of something greater could be felt. It was a weekend of holy work—sacred, sweaty, beautiful.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” — Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

This was more than a project. It was a glimpse of the Kingdom—where love looks like action, and hope is something you can build with your own two hands.