It took many hands and many hearts to build the Compassion House, which welcomed a family from Afghanistan at the end of November.

The 2,200-square-foot home, property of Lancaster Brethren in Christ Church in Pennsylvania, is the result of a partnership between Mennonite Disaster Service, Mennonite Central Committee and Church World Service.

The home was renovated largely by MDS volunteers and members of the Lancaster Brethren in Christ Church. The family will live there for one year.

Bob Nafziger, a volunteer from the MDS Lancaster Unit who spent many hours working on the home, finished the final touches before inspection.

“I’ve learned over the years that you get a lot more out of this than you put in it,” he said about service in the name of God.

As church member John Sauder strolled through the home the day of its dedication Nov. 17, he recalled how much work the structure needed. “We had to tear just about everything in here down,” he said.

Now the home has a new interior, right down to kitchen cabinets crafted and shipped from the MDS cabinet shop in Goessel, Kan.

Rolando Flores, MCC East Coast South-Central Pennsylvania program coordinator, said the organization’s involvement is through MCC’s Open Arms Program, which brings organizations and congregations together to provide a holistic support system to refugees in the region.

“It is great to connect MCC, MDS, CWS and the church in this way,” he said.

Lancaster BIC Church Pastor Joshua Nolt said during the dedication service that it was impossible to name everyone who was involved in the project.

“We’ve undertaken this work because it’s part of our story and part of our identity as God’s people,” he said. “It all began with a phone call in 2023 from our neighbors who owned the property.” They wanted to know if the church was interested in purchasing the home.

“It was a sore sight for eyes, not a sight for sore eyes,” he said. “The church in six weeks raised $125,000 dollars and pledged another $150,000 to pay the place off.”