Submitted information and photo:
Nine Cobb County churches, two Mosques, a Synagogue and three corporations gathered yesterday in unity to dedicate the 19th Cobb County Interfaith Habitat Coalition home they built together for newest homeowner Belinda Arkoh.
The 2019 Coalition included: Temple Kol Emeth Synagogue, Bethany United Methodist Church, Covenant United Methodist Church, Log Cabin Community Church of Vinings, Unity North Church, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, First Presbyterian Church of Marietta, Smyrna First United Methodist Church, McEachern United Methodist Church, St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church, West Cobb Islamic Center and the Islamic Center of Marietta. Corporations include BB&T, Moore Colson and Pinkerton & Laws Construction of Atlanta.
They all work in concert to do as their motto says, ‘We Build to Coexist, We Coexist to Build’. The annual coalition is co-chaired by Henry Hene, NW Metro Atlanta Habitat Board Member and Paul Wilson, both members of Temple Kol Emeth.
The home on Old Bankhead Highway began on June 1. Volunteers from each organization built alongside the new homeowner each Saturday since to complete the home.
Belinda is a recent widow and mother of two children: a 4-year-old son and 2- year old daughter. Belinda has been a United States resident since 2007, and proudly became a naturalized citizen in 2013. She lost her husband and father of her two children in 2018.
After living in a single bedroom apartment with her two children, they now have a home, yard, neighborhood and community. Belinda is professional seamstress and a devoted Christian who loves working in her community work and her church.
Pictured from left to right: David McKay, House Leader; Jessica Gill, CEO NW Metro Atlanta Habitat; Greg Lee, McEachern United Methodist Church; Paula Wilson, Temple Kol Emeth; Henry Hene, Coalition Co-Chair and NW Metro Atlanta Habitat Board; Paul Wilson, Coalition Co-Chair; Tony Phillips, Pastor McEachern United Methodist Church; Rabbi Steve Lebow, Temple Koh Emeth; Belinda Arkoh, homeowner; Amjad Taufigue, West Cobb Islamic Center; Rev. Avril James, Unity North Church; Jerry Zigler, Covenant United Methodist Church; Connie Bergeron, Dave Daniels, St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church; and Alan Nicely, Smyrna First United Methodist Church.
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