Churches hoping to use volunteers to renovate facilities or build new ones are encouraged to contact the State Board of Missions (SBOM), said Johnny Fox, construction coordinator for men’s ministries at the SBOM. Through volunteer help from across the state, Fox said a church can save up to 40 percent of building costs.
“We are asking the churches to let me come and talk to them at the onset of planning,” Fox said, noting it’s best to begin the planning stage 12 to 18 months before building to assure the proper permits, codes and blueprints.
There are about 135 Alabama teams. Each has its own leader and the teams are organized by churches or associations.
According to Fox, there are teams that do a variety of work, but some teams do specialized skills such as Sheetrocking™, framing and bricking. Fox noted more bricklayers are needed for the teams.
George B. Williams, a retired construction worker and member of Siloam Baptist Church, York, in Bigbee Association, leads a team that started 19 years ago.
Williams said his team of 25 people from Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Georgia and Kansas can “do most anything,” but is made up of primarily framers. “There’s a lot of things I can’t do, but there’s a lot of things I can do.”
Initially, churches contact the SBOM for a C-1 form, a request for volunteer construction assistance. This is filled out by the church. Next, the director of missions must sign the C-1 form, acknowledging the church is either affiliated with the association or is a recognized evangelistic faith. The application is sent to the SBOM, and the process of finding assistance begins.
A resource
Because these construction teams are only a “loose-knit entity of the convention,” Fox said his office has no authority over the teams. However, Fox can provide churches with a list of the state’s construction teams.
He can also provide teams with a list of construction needs by other churches.
“When Bro. Fox made our name available to churches, we received six or seven calls from churches in Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia,” said Clyde Stevens, pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church, Fayette.
The church, which is building a new educational building with fellowship facilities, was able to match schedules with two churches — Five Points Church, Northport; and Alberta Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa. Volunteers from one of those churches helped to build the frame, while the other church’s volunteers did the Sheetrocking™.
Stevens estimates the assistance has saved the church between $10,000 and $20,000.
“As much as anything, they’ve saved us time,” he said. “It was framed in with the roof on it in three days.” The Sheetrock™ was put up in three days as well.
The men from Macedonia Baptist have worked alongside the volunteer crews. Stevens said church members have gotten to know the volunteers well.
“We appreciate the help we’ve gotten,” Stevens said. “It’s good to know there are people we can call for help.”
There is also a publication by the North American Mission Board which lists Service Corps needs, general needs and construction needs across the United States. OnSite is a free, by-request-only publication that can be obtained by calling 770-410-6000.
For more information on assistance or starting a new volunteer team, contact Fox at the SBOM at 1-800-264-1225, ext. 335, or at home at 334-569-2476.
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