Disaster Relief Group Rebuilds Lives by Tearing Down Homes

When disasters have struck since 1998, the 100% volunteer-driven organization Christ In Action (CIA) has sprung into action. 

In the immediate aftermath of September 11, 2001, they served 55,000 meals to volunteers in the Pentagon parking lot. 

Soon thereafter, they traveled to New York and cooked 50,000 more for workers at Ground Zero. 

After Hurricane Katrina rocked the Southeast in 2005, they provided a half-million meals and helped rebuild hundreds of destroyed homes. 

And as their mission evolved, they turned to Bobcat® equipment to perform larger demolition work that manpower alone couldn’t tackle. 

“We realized that we could help people if their home is damaged beyond repair,” says Denny Nissley, President and founder of CIA. “I could put my rear-end in an excavator and clear their property so they can start to rebuild.” 

A Life Spent Rebuilding

Rebuild is the perfect word to describe Denny’s life. “When I was a teenager, I got involved with alcohol and drugs,” says Denny. “On April 3, 1977, I walked into a church and my life was so screwed up. I said, ‘God, if you’re real, you can have my life because I’m done with it.” 

Denny walked out of that same church a new man. One who, since that day, has committed his life to serving others in need. 

“I spent the next 20 years walking the streets of all 50 states and 20-some countries telling people what God’s done for me,” says Denny. His compassion has given rise to Christ In Action, which features a legion of 17,000 volunteers nationwide whose mission is to provide relief to disaster-stricken communities. And they’ve done it all for thousands of homeowners without ever accepting a cent. 

“Donors give us $50 or $100 a month — and when somebody gives money to the organization, it goes to boots on the ground,” says Denny. 

CIA depends heavily on one of its smartest investments: Bobcat excavators and compact track loaders. Their fleet includes five T870 compact track loaders, an E50 compact excavator and an E85 compact excavator.