When pastoral couple Aaron and Maggie Halvorsen returned from their July vacation, they came home to their own home makeover, thanks to a surprise labor of love from their congregation.
In nine days, the Community Bible Church congregation in Olathe, Kan., secretly transformed the Halvorsens’ kitchen for a family who loves to host.
“Maggie is very gifted in baking and cooking,” says one member of the congregation, who wanted to remain anonymous. “They use their home for hospitality regularly, so (we wanted to) make (the kitchen) better for her.”
Kitchen Vandals
The CBC congregation has a bit of a reputation, it turns out.
The project was the brainchild of a core group of seven—a service-minded bunch affectionately dubbed the “Kitchen Vandals” after completing a similar project at the home of pastoral couple Russ and Marilyn Friesen 18 years ago.
This time, they turned their attention to the Halvorsens, who, when they arrived CBC 10 years ago, tried to invite every member of the congregation over for a meal.
“Maggie’s a good cook and has that gift of hospitality,” Aaron says. “So that’s been part of ministry for us from the beginning.”
In the years since, they’ve hosted small groups and church meetings and had countless people over for Sunday meals after church.
With so many on the receiving end of the Halvorsens’ hospitality, the congregation found a way to give back.
Prep for the project
With this project in mind, a few Kitchen Vandals nonchalantly asked Maggie about her kitchen style and preferences and shared their gleanings with an interior designer from CBC.
“An underlying fear all along (was), this is very specific,” says one Kitchen Vandal. “Is this going to be what she would love?”
By the time the Halvorsens’ vacation neared, the Vandals had a design and a plan.
Admittedly, Aaron was suspicious, he says, as someone had asked for the garage code.
From July 2-10, 58 members of the congregation installed open shelving, new counters and backsplash, tile flooring, new ceiling and lighting and more—often working until after midnight. Others donated money—the project was funded by donations—brought refreshments or videoed the progress. They only outsourced the cabinet doors.
“It gave people the opportunity to be generous with their time, talents, money and encouragement,” the anonymous Vandal says. “It was good to be together working.”
Shock and delight
When the Halvorsens returned from vacation, their response was positive.
“It looks exactly like I imagined except way nicer,” Maggie says. “I was going to put linoleum in and maybe paint the backsplash. But they ripped everything out, and it’s tile. It is beautiful. We were shocked and delighted that we love it. It’s exactly what we wanted.”
For the Halvorsens, the new kitchen has provided a unique conversation starter with neighbors.
“It’s been such a cool opportunity to talk to so many people about the church and their love for us,” Maggie says. “You could tell people are shocked.”
In early August, the Halvorsens invited their neighbors over for dinner to thank them for dealing with the bustle of construction.
“We’ve tried to have neighbor dinners before and not that many people have come,” Maggie says. “There’s a lot more coming because I think they want to see the kitchen.”
As the couple approaches their 10-year anniversary at CBC, Aaron has entertained thoughts of inviting congregation members over for another meal.
“It seemed like it was good timing from the Lord and affirming of what we want and need to be doing: caring for people and welcoming (them) in,” he says.
In the end, Maggie acknowledges that it’s not about the space but the heart behind it.
“You don’t have to have a fancy kitchen to do hospitality,” she says. “It’s more about willingness.”
The Halvorsens admit it’s awkward to receive a big gift they can’t repay.
“I was talking with the other pastor’s wife—they had the remodel done years ago—and she said, ‘It’s kind of like the gospel,’” Maggie says. “It’s a gift. You can’t earn it, you can’t pay it back, you can’t really thank enough for it, so you just have to enjoy it.”
Janae Rempel Shafer is the Christian Leader associate editor and joined the CL staff in 2017. Shafer is an award-winning writer, receiving multiple awards from the Kansas Press Association and Evangelical Press Association. A Tabor graduate with a degree in communications and religious studies, she and her husband, Austin, attend Ridgepoint Church in Wichita, Kansas.
