BASICS in Milwaukee, Inc.

2001

The Church building was formerly a Masonic Temple declared a historic monument which was in bad need of repair to its original condition. The church had spent all of its resources on repairs to the inside of the building to meet code requirements but had no money to replace the twenty-two wide steps in the front of the church and repair the stone masonry framing the steps.

Pastor McCrory’s daughter called asking for help for her exhausted father who didn’t know how to avoid the $150 per day fine up to $10,000 maximum from the City of Milwaukee and then facing the building being closed. He had gone out for bids to get the repair work done with bids coming in at $186,000 and $73,000 when the church didn’t have any funds to do it.

Our BASICS relationship started with prayer for God’s miraculous intervention. We checked with the historical Society to determine if any funds were available and found no encouragement. Fred Espinoza, Architect (and outstanding Christian servant), was engaged to determine and define the work required to make the repairs correctly. After drawings were made and specifications written, Fred successfully convinced his friends in the City Inspectors’ office to extend the deadline six months to allow the church with BASICS’ help to do the work required.

During the next months, Fred led us to Walter Construction Company whose president, Walter Petit, was an American Indian man of faith who employed recovering men learning the construction trades mainly masonry and cement work.

Walt submitted a Time and Material Bid not to exceed $28,000 — so the church obtained a loan from their bank for that amount.

The extensive work began immediately to do everything possible to meet the new deadline of December 15, 2000. The work was completed on schedule with the final invoice amounting to $16,300 — a marvelous miracle and answer to our prayers. The excess funds available were needed to a newly formed leak in the roof that occurred during the time the steps were being repaired. Again, God was providing all the resources required to keep the church in operation.

The church was now ready to expand its outreach program to the immense needs of the surrounding community. Dr. Dick Whitehouse, a BASICS’ Associate, provided much valued consulting in building the leadership capabilities of the church. Out of this effort, a Child Care Center and Banquet Catering Service were established to generate additional income for the church and jobs for its unemployed members.

We praise God for His faithfulness in providing such abundant blessings — allowing His Kingdom to come and His will to be done in Milwaukee as it is in heaven.