It’s being deemed a field of hope, not dreams and it is very real.
But God Ministries held its dedication of a new baseball and softball field on the Jonestown Bypass last week with donors from all over the state and local residents smiling at the way it all came together.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” said Bennie Brown, Manager of the But God Ministries in Jonestown. “We can heal ourselves and the people of Jonestown are doing that with But God Ministries.
“This is a field of hope,” Brown added. “It is no longer a field of corn, soybeans or cotton. It will serve all the communities of Coahoma County and especially our youth.”
But God Ministries (BGM) partnered with Major League Baseball Players Youth Development Foundation and Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors to fund a $3 million state-of-the-art baseball/softball complex that will be known as Hope Field.
“This project is about the children who will play on these field and the families who will enjoy it,” said Stan Buckley Executive Director of But God Ministries. “That has been our focus from the beginning.”
Buckley said local partnerships, like the donation of the 15-acres by landowners John and Robin Cocke played a big part in making Saturday’s dedication happen. Buckley reeled off a list of donors ranging from Regions Bank and Coca Cola to Entergy and Dicks Sporting Goods that also played a part.
The cost of the fields, concession stand, parking lot and sidewalks was around $3 million with the Major League Baseball Players Foundation chipping in $1 million.
Buckley also said But God Ministries has been in Jonestown since 2016 and pointed to its economic development center, its legal clinic, its job incubator, its medical and dental clinic and its partnership with other agencies and churches to build affordable houses right across the highway from the ballfield.
Buckley said the next major project is to build housing for widows in Jonestown.
“We will maintain and operate this ballfield,” said Buckley. “Our (baseball/softball) program will be for kids ages 4- to 10-years old. We will also have Coahoma County schools play here and five city leagues from around the county can play here too.”
And Buckley said the project is more than sports and recreation.
“This is about what kids should be taught in schools, churches and homes,” said Buckley. “This is about being a part of good clean fun that teaches life lessons that stay with them all their lives.”
Jim Gorrie, the general contractor for the park, said this project will not only change lives, it will change Jonestown.
“This project, and all that But God Ministries is doing in Jonestown, is a catalyst for change,” said Gorrie. “This is the right kind of infrastructure to bring about real and lasting change in any community.”
But Got Ministries is faith-based and family-oriented and has helped people in Jonestown for years. It works under a model called SPHERES that encompasses the Spiritual, Physical, “H2O” (clean water), Education, Roofs, Economic development and access “S” to healthy food.
But God Ministries takes its name from Ephesians 2:4, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.”
To learn more about But God Ministries, go to www.butGodministries.com.
