HOUSTON—Since Hurricane Ike left Larry and Melissa Beach’s home in Kemah severely damaged, they have been living in two FEMA trailers parked in front of their house—with their 13 children, ranging in age from 23 years to 22 months.
While undergoing difficult circumstances, the family’s strong faith in Christ remained their solid foundation and served as an example for others.
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A crowd gathers on the Beaches’ front lawn and anxiously awaits the family’s reaction to their new home.
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Nine of their children are adopted and several have special needs. In the Beaches’ 23 years of marriage, they have been foster parents to more than 85 children.
Following the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, the Beach family wasn’t focused on their damaged home. Instead, they reached out to the community and helped with the cleanup efforts.
Larry Beach worked as a lineman for the power company and restored power throughout the city, while his wife volunteered at a local food pantry.
Their generous spirit didn’t go unnoticed.
In early January, a knock on their door brought an unexpected blessing for the Beach family, who are members of Ecclesia Church in Houston—and the timing couldn’t have been more fitting.
On Melissa Beach’s 40th birthday, she opened the door to find the crew from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition announcing that her family was selected to receive a new home.
“This is one of those families who was perfect for Extreme Makeover, even before the storm,” said Robbie Seay, who leads worship at Ecclesia.
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The Beach family arrives at the construction site to see their new home.
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Seay nominated the Beach family for the popular reality show and has a deep connection to this family. While Seay was growing up, Larry and Melissa Beach were his Sunday school teachers.
Today, Seay is mentoring the Beaches’ oldest sons and giving them music lessons.
“Larry and Melissa Beach are an inspiring couple, and the new home allows them to open their door to more orphans through adoption and foster care,” Seay said.
During the Extreme Makeover project, thousands of volunteers from the surrounding area worked together, and in only a week’s time, they created a spacious 6,340-square-foot home, with eight bedrooms and four bathrooms.
Pastor Chris Seay (left) Ecclesia Church in Houston and his brother, Robbie, worship leader at Ecclesia, help with the construction of the Beaches’ home in Kemah.
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Special features include an elevator, therapy room and rooftop solar panels.
To accommodate their children with special needs, the home was built to meet standards set by the American with Disabilities Act, with wide doorways and bathrooms large enough for a wheelchair.
The episode is scheduled to air in late March, and Seay is among those eager for viewers to see Christ’s love displayed throughout this project.
“Hundreds of people from Ecclesia were honored to be a part of the construction of the Beach’s home, and it was such a blessing for our church to be able to work together in the rebuilding process,” Seay said. “On a daily basis, this family displays the love of God by reaching out and caring for the most vulnerable and needy in our society.
Ty Pennington, of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, talks with the Beach Family about their new home.
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“No matter what circumstances they’ve endured, their first response was to help others. As a result, this family has shown that their faith in Christ is stronger than anything a storm could bring their way.”
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