APPLING, Ga. () – A groundbreaking ceremony is being held today for the construction of a new home for a local veteran.  
  
Wesley United Methodist Church is helping with this project that they have nicked named the ” Faith Build”.  
 
This project began in 2023 when Senior Judge James Blanchard wanted to assist veterans who are at risk. They recognized the need for home repairs for Bradley Slater, a veteran, and wanted to go above and beyond to assist him. That’s why now they will be building him a new home with help from Columbia County, Wesley United Methodist Church, Habitat for Humanity, and local contractors and suppliers.   
 
“It is a blessing to our veteran court and especially one of our veterans,” said James Blanchard, Senior Superior Court Judge at Columbia Judicial Circuit. “He had a problem with the structure of his house, and we found working through Habitat for Humanity and with the Methodist church, Wesley Methodist Church, that there were men who were led to help veterans or the homeless.”  
  
When the Wesley United Methodist Church’s Relief and Recovery team inspected Slater’s home, they recommended that a new home be built for the family.  
 
“We want God to be glorified in all of this, really,” said Mark Haddon, Wesly United Methodist Church Missions Coordinator. “It’s not about us; it’s just about a family needing help, and we’re able to pitch in and draw other people in and, through those efforts, try and help them.”  
  
Slater’s current and former accountability coordinators are pleased to see this happen for him, given all that he has accomplished.   
 
“Just want to thank everyone for coming out today to show appreciation for Mr. Slater and his family and taking on this task for making sure that they can make their house a home,” said Lateisha Mosquera, Current Accountability Coordinator. 
 
“He’s given all he has to give to this program, and now we’re giving him all that we can,” said Rhoda Kimble, Former Accountability Coordinator.  
 
Slater is grateful to everyone who has made this possible for him and his family.   
 
“I have to thank the court, I really do, and the Methodist church,” said Bradley Slater, Homeowner. “These people have been so kind to me. And Habitat for Humanity and everything they have done for us. It’s amazing; it really is. We feel very blessed.”  
 
I was told the home should take 12 to 18 months to build, and once the free-standing home is built, the mobile home will be removed from the property.