It was a step of faith and a dream to build that took 36 volunteers from First Baptist Church in Union Springs to Belfry, Ky., this summer. Distance did not keep the Alabama church members from traveling to a small coal town in West Virginia. In fact, this was their 21st missions trip to help build a church.
The process began through the North American Mission Board (NAMB). Bruce Hose, pastor and construction team leader for Union Springs, began looking on NAMB’s ‘The Bridge’ Internet site around December to see who needed volunteers for the sum- mer. They found several potential churches and prayed. Three locations were chosen and Kentucky was the one selected after a conference call.
“We like building churches,” said Hose. “The last seven years we have become ‘Sheetrock people.’ ”
Sally Hall, member of the 500- member First, Union Springs, has been on 17 missions trips preparing meals. “We prepare food ahead of time and picnic on the way to and from our destination,” she said.
“Belfry is a great place with wonderful people,” said Hall. “We shared the gospel as we shopped — people knew we weren’t from Belfry when we spoke.”
Holt Williams, a retired business owner whose dad was a con- tractor, has been a church member since 1955 and has been on 18 missions trips with the Bullock Centennial Association church. “We mainly minister to church members but have had people get saved because they saw what we were doing for others,” said Williams. “I enjoyed the friendliness and hardworking people we met in Belfry.”
Williams, who builds custom furniture now in his retirement, plans to build a pulpit for Belfry.
Hatfields and McCoys
Belfry is the home of the infamous feud between the Hatfields and McCoys. A direct descendant of the original ‘Hatfields’ from Kentucky, Johnny Hatfield runs a commercial glass shop and carpet store by trade and is the building chairman for Belfry. He added jokingly that he employs a ‘McCoy’ at his business and that the feuding is in the past.
“We’ve had a great response of experienced volunteer help,” said Hatfield. “Union Springs members were productive, hanging 250 pieces of Sheetrock.”
Mark Helton, pastor of Belfry Baptist Church, was told of the plans to relocate when he came as pastor.
“The current building was built in 1939,” said Helton. “We are out of space with 175 active members. Our youth meetings are held in a house next door.”
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