On Saturday, March 16, a group of 19 volunteers representing five United Methodist churches from across the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference came together in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia for a one-day mission project. Partnering with Simple Homes, the team spent the day removing debris from both inside and outside a rowhome that had long been abandoned.
The group—comprised of members from churches of varying sizes and locations—rolled up their sleeves to haul out broken furniture, moldy mattresses, and years’ worth of trash and decay. The goal: to clear the property so it can be renovated and eventually sold to someone in need of affordable housing.
Simple Homes is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization that acquires and renovates blighted houses in under-resourced neighborhoods. Their vision is to increase access to affordable homeownership and strengthen communities by transforming vacant properties into stable homes. They follow a Habitat for Humanity model, working with future homeowners who contribute sweat equity by helping with renovations. Simple Homes holds the mortgage and offers it at 0% interest, allowing families to make affordable payments and build long-term stability.
Four members of our Conference’s Early Response Team (ERT), who recently deployed to North Georgia following tornadoes, were also on the ground leading this effort. Their presence brought not only expertise but deepened the spiritual and relational fabric of the day. These leaders helped foster connections that went beyond just a few hours of hard work—building relationships that are vital for long-term mission and ministry.
Throughout the day, volunteers reflected on the experience of poverty as something akin to a slow-moving disaster—one that doesn’t make headlines but leaves lasting devastation. Viewed through the lens of disaster response, poverty becomes not just a social issue, but an emergency that demands action, compassion, and sustained recovery efforts. Just like in a natural disaster, our neighbors experiencing poverty need safe shelter, stability, and a supportive community to rebuild their lives.
The mission day was about more than just demolition. It was an opportunity to build camaraderie across congregations and to use hands-on service to live out the gospel. Events like these keep our disaster response skills sharp, ensuring we’re ready to mobilize quickly when a hurricane, flood, or fire hits. At the same time, they train our hearts to recognize slow-moving crises too—and respond with equal urgency.
We are working toward an ongoing partnership with Simple Homes that will offer service opportunities on a regular basis. If you or your church are interested in participating in future missions with Simple Homes, contact our Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, Rev. Cricket Denton, at cdenton@haddonfieldumc.org.