ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, SportsOperation James 2:22- doers of the word build houses

Volunteers from Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia are bringing a Bible lesson to life in Ohatchee. They decided to "be doers of the word, not hearers only." What they are doing is building tornado survivors new houses.

On April 27, the Haltiwangers lost their house in seconds.

"We didn't know what we were going to do. FEMA couldn't help because we had insurance. The best thing that could happen, happened," said Earl Haltiwanger, a tornado survivor.

That thing was a quick phone call from Greenbrier Road Church's pastor. 

Haltiwanger's wife thought he was offering meals and prayers, not houses for them and their neighbors, the Breidenbachs, for free.

"It's overwhelming that strangers, strangers that just love people want to do this for us," said Mandy Haltiwanger.

"It's by the Grace of God. That's who is doing all of this," said Rhonda Breidenbach, a tornado survivor and Haltiwanger's neighbor.

The small army of volunteers say it was God's order to come from Virginia and Tennessee.

"My dad used to bring me to Ohatchee to go fishing, so when I heard about the tornado, it was natural for me," said Reverend Travis Collins, pastor of Bonair Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia.

"At this point, this is the place the Lord has divinely appointed us to be," said Reverend Steve Freeman, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Springfield, Tennessee.

They were organized by East Alabama pastors.

"In 12 days, we will have two houses built from the ground up in God's glory because I don't think we could do it on our own," said Reverend Brad Williams, pastor of Greenbrier Road Church.

"We can do something that's not just right now," said Reverend Tom Bonds, pastor of First Baptist Church.

The homeowners are helping out alongside their own angels.

"I'm trying to capture every little thing I can- all these face, all these walls, all these nails. Years down the road, my kids, my grandchildren can see what these people did for us," said Haltiwanger.

"I don't look at it as my house. I look at it as God's house until he calls me home," said Breidenbach.

Construction began on the houses Monday. It is expected to finish in twelve days.

Church members, as well as local contractors, donated money, labor and materials.