Autauga’s Indian Grave marks 25 years of missions work

For 25 straight years, Indian Grave Baptist Church, Billingsley, in Autauga Baptist Association has sent a missions team somewhere in the world.
   
Although the church has concentrated its ministry stateside, the missions team keeps expanding its borders. The construction team has traveled to 14 states to help build or improve church facilities. They recently returned from a site in Clayton, Ga., on Persimmon Mountain.
   
Indian Grave first became involved in missions trips 25 years ago after member George Cook organized a project in Colombia, South America.
   
The size of the team varies but usually averages about 25 to 30. Thirty-five went to Georgia in June. “A lot of churches that we go to we find when we get there, they’re actually larger than we are.” A third of the church’s congregation participated one year, according to Jan Jones. Indian Grave averages about 150 in Sunday School.
   
And while a core group of people can be counted on to participate, every year new people enlist. “We’re picking up some younger ones to carry on.” For example, Acteens have gone with them to do Bible clubs and puppet ministry.
   
The team acts as a framing crew, a need they elected to fill because of their carpentry skills. “It just fits what talents we’d been given,” Jan Jones said.
   
Cook, leader of the first team, was a carpenter by trade. Members in that first group also included Ed and Elsie Golson and Larry and Sue McGowin.
   
Concentrating efforts stateside means involvement by more people, said Jan Jones, because most projects can be done in a week of vacation.
   
The construction team has helped build sanctuaries, fellowship halls and educational buildings. “We do whatever’s needed,” Jan Jones said.
   
They worked on a fellowship hall in Clayton, Ga., that includes a bedroom and bathroom and wrap-around front porch to house the bivocational pastor.
   
The team built the frame, installed Sheetrock, placed the roof and installed windows.
   
To choose a project for its involvement, the church consults the North American Mission Board and relies on contacts they have made with other pastors and churches.
   
Commitment to completing a yearly missions project is critical.
   
“Sometimes we get real concerned that things don’t seem to be working out. One year we were down to two weeks, and then everything fell in place,” Jan Jones said. “The amazing thing is God always provides us a place to go. We have to see where He’s working, and He takes us to that point.”
   
While the church funds the construction projects, participants supply their own groceries, which they cook on-site. Self-sufficiency is part of the plan. Because showers are often not available on-site where they work, David Jones rigged one by installing a water heater inside a horse trailer pulled by their truck. “Before we got there last year they’d already heard about our horse trailer,” he said.
   
The rewards for their efforts  expand. They went once to a small, rural black congregation in Hugo, Okla., composed of mostly women and children, three of whom had stepped out on faith and borrowed the money for renovations to their church building. “They were so thankful, and I felt so much that this was where we were supposed to be,” Jan Jones said.