Local pastors pray for future residents of Triumph Village in Tyler, bless the facility during Tuesday event

Published 6:30 pm Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Because God is at the foundation of everything Hiway 80 Rescue Mission strives to accomplish, Eric Burger, the nonprofit’s executive director, said it only seemed right to make prayer a pivotal part of the construction process.

For about an hour Tuesday, a crowd of around two dozen people gathered at Triumph Village, 12781 Texas Highway 64 West, for a Blessing Day. The event allowed participants an opportunity to tour two completed cottages and a gutted home that will become the welcome center.

When complete, Triumph Village will feature a chapel, the remodeled welcome center and six cottages that will house men in Hiway 80’s transitional housing and New Creation Discipleship programs. 

The New Creation Discipleship program is a Christian-based program that strives to help men address life-controlling addictions.

On Tuesday’s Blessing Day, the faith leaders of many of Triumph Village’s donors prayed over portions of the facility.

“Lord we know that those who come here may be battling addictions, so our prayer would be that they’ll find the love of Jesus Christ to be a greater influence,” Doug Baker, senior pastor of Marvin United Methodist Church, prayed. “We pray that victories will take place in the cottages, as well as in the programs. 

“We pray God for those who go through this program, (that they) will not only find new life in Jesus Christ, but they’ll began to have bigger visions for their lives like college, employment, restoring relationships with their families,” he later added.

Gary Albritton, senior minister at Shiloh Road Church of Christ, asked God to bless the welcome center.

“May all be welcomed here, friend and stranger, from near and far,” he said. “May each be blessed and honored as they enter in. There is a friend’s love in the gentle heart of the savior, Father we pray that they would find that here.”

David Dykes, pastor of Green Acres Baptist Church, shared a few words before praying for the future site of the chapel.

“A chapel says something to a community: It says we’re not a secular organization,” Dykes said. “This is not a secular recovery program. … We’re trusting God and trusting Jesus Christ to make a difference in the lives of people who are in need.”

Burger said the nonprofit likely would start moving some men into the cottages early next year, although some structures will not be complete until further funding is secured.

He said Tuesday’s event was fitting for the organization and what they hope to offer the community through Triumph Village.

“We wanted to dedicate a time that we can thank the Lord for what’s done … and also to continue to pray for the things we still need to have the funds and the support to do,” Burger said.  

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