Samaritan's Purse revives home destroyed last year

By Junious Smith III

What once seemed destroyed beyond repair has been restored.

During Hurricane Florence in September, more than 200 Jones County residents needed emergency evacuation and thousands were forced out of flood-prone areas. Scores of families lost their houses, including Felton and Geraldine Eubanks, who had a house in the Plantation community — nestled between Trenton and Comfort — for more than 100 years.

The couple had been married 54 years and while there have been renovations, there seemed like no chance for repair.

Still, Felton Eubanks had faith, despite the flood damage.

“He was adamant about us coming back here,” Geraldine Eubanks said. “He said it wasn’t over for this house and the Lord sent Samaritan’s Purse over. I still can’t get over how blessed we are to be here now.”

Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominal evangelical Christian organization, specializing in spiritual and physical aid to the masses since 1970. There was an application process to go through and there was a bit of doubt there as well, but the Eubanks were approved.

On Thursday, there was a housewarming event with the Eubanks, friends and volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse who helped restore the place.

“It’s an indescribable feeling,” Felton Eubanks said. “I didn’t know what to think because I knew we couldn’t afford the costs after talking to contractors. Someone got in contact with Samaritan’s Purse and Pastor prayed over our paperwork.

“Two days later, we found out we had been approved. This is all God’s work and it’s absolutely amazing.”

The Eubanks' pastor, Brian Rogers, heads Kinston First Pentecostal Holiness Church and said he was in a state of shock seeing the final results.

“When I saw the initial aftermath to now witnessing the transformation, it’s nothing short of amazing,” he said. “Knowing the devastation this house went through, when I walked in here I was in a state of awe. God is so great and knowing this family was able to rebuild through the devastation does nothing but warm my heart.”

Renae Eubanks-Banks, Geraldine Eubanks' daughter, said the work has been nothing short of spectacular.

“It’s an understatement to say Samaritan’s Purse has been a blessing,” she said. “They have really wrapped their arms around Mom and Dad, and what was also amazing was the fact they had different teams coming in here every week to help. The contractor and case manager stayed the same, but there was a different team of volunteers who would come out and help.

“They all did a tremendous job.”

John Granger, the contractor of the project, said it was more than him and the volunteers putting everything together.

“I was blown away when I saw the house for the first time,” Granger said. “It was in real bad shape, but God was definitely working — There was no other way for us to do this outside of Him.”

For Geraldine Eubanks, this was the best set of renovations.

“It’s so much better than it was last time,” Eubanks said. “Samaritan’s Purse did an awesome job and they were great to work with.”