Bill Brazell, pastor of Memorial Baptist Church in Port Arthur, believes student and church groups who came to the city to repair the church and homes are heaven sent.

“It’s amazing. God sent so many teams from so many places to come here,” he said.

Operation Blessing and Christian Aid Ministry groups came from Alaska, Florida, California and Ohio. Nineteen students from Western New England University in Massachusetts spent their Spring Break painting the fascia board outside and tidying up a picnic table area on the church’s campus.

Four inches of the wall in the fellowship hall were gutted, with further work done on the floors along with plumbing, all done by volunteers.

Around 30 Christian Aid Ministry people have been living in the church’s gymnasium, restoring homes all around Port Arthur.

A company in Ohio donated doors to the church and two showers have been installed. A group, also from Ohio, poured $9,000 worth of concrete for the gym’s floor.

Dave Aberlym of Pennsylvania has a son in Port Arthur doing manual labor in homes, free of charge.

Moreover, Aberly is an electrician. He joked they put him to work when he walked through the church doors.