Cape Reverend Using Birthday To Raise Money To Repair Church

SANDWICH, MA — Rev. Tina Walker-Morin turns 40 next month, and to celebrate, she's asking the Sandwich community to help her repair the church she serves.

Walker-Morin is a clergywoman at the nearly 200-year-old First Church of Christ. Right as the coronavirus pandemic hit, church officials discovered the church had some major structural deficiencies, specifically where the building supports the steeple. Walker-Morin said the church community hasn't been able to worship at the sanctuary since before the pandemic.

"The church is more than the building, this community is where a single mom can bring her two beautiful shy girls and watch them blossom and grow in self-confidence surrounded by love and a caring community," Walker Morin said. "This is a place where elders who must move into a nursing home are visited and sent cards and respond with words, of thanks saying, 'it is nice to know I am not forgotten.'"

Walker-Morin started a GoFundMe on June 29 to raise money to repair the steeple. She's hoping to raise $40,000 by her 40th birthday on Aug. 8. As of Monday afternoon, the clergywoman has raised $7,783.

Walker-Morin's church fundraiser can be found on her GoFundMe page.