CPS on a Habitat build site in Bonita Springs.
Christian Public Service (CPS) began its work with Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties in March 2023 as a disaster recovery team following Hurricane Ian. Led by house parents Aaron Stoll and his wife, the Fort Myers Rebuild Unit includes four young men who are serving our county by volunteering.
Since partnering with Habitat, 30 CPS members have logged over 8,000 volunteer hours building homes, communities, and hope.
CPS is an agency of the Church of God in Christ Mennonite that was founded to provide opportunities for conscientious objectors to serve others in lieu of military service. “When we talk to selective service, which is the draft board, they would recognize our Christian Public Service as a place for a CO to serve their time,” Stoll said.
Over time, CPS expanded its service model to include more humanitarian work, which is what we know today as their rebuilding units. “We basically go where the floods, hurricanes, tornadoes happen,” Stoll said. “We have about 15 units like this in the U.S.”
CPS’s mission is to provide Christian youth of the Church of God in Christ Mennonite with opportunities for voluntary service. Their mission is rooted in Galatians 6:1, which states “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men.”
Primarily volunteering on build days and wall raisings, CPS spends about three days a week at a Habitat site, always guided by the bible verse attached to their mission.
“If we can do good onto our fellow men, that’s what we’re here for,” Stoll said. “The Lord has given us so much and we’d like to give what we can back.”
Beyond Habitat, CPS’s local Rebuild Unit works with the Midwest Food Bank and Health Park Hospital.
“The rebuilding units are normally very transient,” Stoll said. “We ‘d probably be moving if it wasn’t for some of the relationships we built here. We feel it’s a worthy work and that’s why we stay longer.”
Here at Habitat, the CPS team inspires us daily. “We are blessed to have them and deeply grateful for the love they pour into our community,” Volunteer Coordinator Ashley Brady said.
