Veronica Pritchard had a mission to help those less fortunate in the Mississippi Delta. The Methodist minister passed away last June but the ministry she left behind continues to grow, reaching more and more souls in the Delta. Macon Davis was named executive director and with the help of the already established leadership team, Delta Grace keeps spreading the gospel by helping provide safe, sanitary and secure housing in the Mississippi Delta.
“We are hosting teams like we have for the last 10 years. We had three teams in two weeks of spring break who worked on several houses and we have a full summer program lined up,” Davis said. “We have eight weeks of teams and nine week-long summer programs. We still have people calling every day.”
The ministry has kept rolling along and Davis noted that “there was nothing wrong with the way Veronica was doing it, so we’re doing it all the same way she did it at the same pace.”
David Pritchard, Veronica’s husband, still is the ministry’s construction manager and Macon’s husband, Darron, is the ministry’s project manager.
“We have teams that come back pretty regularly,” Darron said. “The rest of the year fills up with teams that have not been at all or it’s been three or four years since they’ve come. Some teams come multiple times each year. The summer is about half and half of new teams and those returning.”
The ministry started a Veronica Pritchard Legacy Fund last fall. The fund honors Pritchard’s legacy of raising up the next generation of those who love to share the gospel and partake in ministry in some way.
“Giving to that goes to our college intern program for the summer. That was something Veronica was very passionate about. About 80 to 90% of those interns have gone into full-time ministry. The scholarship fund also goes toward bringing on another staff member in a two-year residency program.”
Davis noted that the ministry usually hires between three to five interns and has been getting applications for the upcoming summer.
“There’s always new challenges,” Darron said. “We had a fundraising day back in February to honor Veronica and to honor Delta Grace being operational for 10 years.”
There is no shortage of Delta residents who are applying for help from Delta Grace with construction projects.
“We have received 715 applications over the past 10 years and we’ve worked on 275 homes in that time. Our wait list is extensive and we get applications every single day. When we do work in an area, we come back and there are voicemails asking for applications. The need is just so great and the workers are so few. There will always be work to get done in the Mississippi Delta.”
The non-profit ministry is always looking for volunteers, prayer and monetary support. Supporters are encouraged to give monthly through the monthly bank draft program – Loaves and Fish.
“This allows folks to give monthly and not have to think about it,” Macon said. “This helps us budget knowing what income is reliable.”
Delta Grace asks homeowners to submit a brief application explaining their home repair needs. Then Delta Grace helps facilitate those repairs at little or no cost to the homeowner.
Mission teams from all over the United States register and reserve a time – anywhere from one day to one week – to come to the Delta and volunteer. Delta Grace matches the team with the next available project that matches their skills – carpentry, plumbing, roofing, painting, tiling, and more.
Under the oversight of the construction manager, teams work and share the love of Christ in local homes. Relationships are formed, much-needed work is done, and the teams and homeowners experience God’s amazing grace.
To learn more, go to deltagrace.org.
