ATLANTA (ABP) — Men with chemical dependency in Waukegan, Ill., now have a home to help them recover and build new lives — thanks to a local church and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
First Baptist Church in Waukegan and CBF helped start the ministry, Blessed Above Measure (BAM), a faith-based, state-licensed facility for men.
The church began thinking about a community ministry when several nearby buildings came up for sale. Jorge Zayasbazan, an associate pastor, said the buildings’ proximity to the church seemed an ideal ministry opportunity, but the congregation lacked the finances and people to move forward.
 BAM House director Kevin Means, right, works with members of Trinity Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C., to renovate the house. (PHOTO: First Baptist Church of Waukegan, Ill.) |
“At the same time, we were completing the Fellowship’s ‘It’s Time’ study and were seeking God’s will in regards to a ministry to impact our community,” said Zayasbazan, who also serves as coordinator for North Central Region CBF.
“One easily identifiable stronghold in our community is the problem of alcoholism and drug addiction, and our church already hosted the largest Narcotics Anonymous meeting in the county. The opportunity presented by BAM House was a clear answer to prayer.
First Baptist received a $15,000 CBF missional ministry grant for facility improvements that would qualify BAM House to be licensed by the state, and making it possible for state agencies to refer clients. The CBF provides grants to churches that complete the “It’s Time” study and that want to develop ministries that have an impact on their communities.
In a short time, windows were replaced, equipment purchased, repairs made, remodeling and painting completed and inspections passed. An 82-member team from Trinity Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., provided much of the labor for the renovations.
State licensure was granted in June for the facility, which can accommodate up to eight men.
“We have always been a missional church, but we were looking for something that we could focus on, one thing that we could put our energy into,” Zayasbazan said. “When we listened to God, we found the BAM House.”
BAM House is one of only three faith-based, state-licensed recovery homes in the north Chicago area, Zayasbazan said. It focuses on the spiritual and behavioral development of its clients and helps them become more responsible and productive members of society.
Among its services, BAM House offers substance-abuse counseling, spiritual counseling, Bible study, vocational and employment resources, 12-step recovery meetings and personal-finance education.
It is also a place where men find a Christian community. They are involved with service projects throughout the week, and often work with church members to assist the elderly and people with disabilities with yard work and home repairs. The men also deliver donated furniture to those who need it.
“In the short history of BAM House, we have already baptized two residents and had one commit his life to Christian ministry,” Zayasbazan said. “Not every story ends in success, but there have already been several men who were homeless and without hope, who found jobs and permanent housing, reconciled with their children and, most important, found purpose in Christ.”
“First Baptist Waukegan’s story illustrates the level of missional awareness that is raised as churches engage in the ‘It’s Time’ church-wide experience,” said Rick Bennett, CBF’s director of congregational life.
“Like FBC, many churches are called to a deeper awareness of what it means to be the presence of Christ in their community and around the world. The BAM House ministry is a perfect illustration.”
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