Construction Mission Group Helps Churches in Ohio and Across the U.S.

Proclaiming God’s kingdom and building up the body of Christ—that is the passion and mission of Builders for Christ, a construction mission organization that has helped over 50 Southern Baptist congregations construct houses of worship across the country.

The organization began in 1981 as a lay-led effort to help spread the gospel. Members view each building they help to construct as a tool for reaching people with the message of Jesus Christ. With

the help of BFC, congregations are able to accomplish in one to two years what could have possibly taken more than four or five years to complete.

In addition to hours upon hours of volunteer labor, BFC assists churches with financial planning, site analysis, Capital Stewardship Campaign planning, master planning, architectural design, c

onstruction systems consultation, construction material estimating, logistical planning, volunteer coordinating, and more.

“One of the most important things we do is help churches get organized.” Said Earl Rhyne, a Builders for Christ project coordinator. “The earlier we get involved in the project, the more we can do to help.” Rhyne has helped construct approximately 25 projects in his 23 years of service with BFC. Helping churches figure out what they can afford and plan structures in such a way that they can easily be expanded are key components of BFC’s services.  “We want to help each congregation plan and build a tool that they will feel comfortable using.”  Rhyne explained.

“Careful planning leads to excellent stewardship, wisdom, and stable congregations.” echoed Lawrence Corley, a project coordinator and founding member of BFC. “We’re not in this to save people money, though we do.” Corley said. “Our goal is to invest in God’s kingdom in neighborhoods where the churches need our help.” Corley recalled a recent project in which BFC invested 45,000 hours, a value of nearly $1,000,000 in labor.

BFC has helped build in two places where less than 2% of the people belong to any form of religious body. Fifteen of the 53 projects have been located in New England. The rest are scattered across the country as far West as Denver. A large percentage of the volunteers come from churches that were built with BFC’s help.

“If you don’t want to get caught up in construction missions, you don’t want us to come here.” Rhyne often tells churches. As more churches are built, more volunteers join the BFC ranks. This summer alone, an excess of 1,200 volunteers worked on projects in Eudora, KS; Chalmette, Louisiana; and Monroe, Ohio. So far, Builders for Christ have assisted eight projects in Ohio that are now complete, as well as a ninth that was started in October in Ironton. And they are eager for more.  Members from four Ohio churches shared how BFC has ministered to their congregations:

Sycamore Ridge Community Church

“I’m a big believer in Builders for Christ,” said Darrel Schick, Pastor of Sycamore Ridge Community Church in Brookville, Ohio. “We would not be where we are today without them.”  The now 500+ congregation began meeting at a local high school, which they quickly outgrew. In 2004, the church purchased a 23-acre plot of land along the interstate. A pastor from First Baptist Church Aurora, also built with the help of BFC, recommended they contact Builders for Christ for help with their planning.

Shick recalls, “I was impressed with the fact that they didn’t just want to build a building. They wanted to help us plan long term: where we will be in five years, ten years…” Growth is central to the BFC mission.

Now Sycamore Ridge has caught the BFC vision. Since their building was completed in 2006, the church has sent a construction mission team each summer to help more churches. This year, their team joined with over 600 other BFC volunteers on a project in Eudora, Kansas.

First Baptist Church—Grove City, Ohio

“BFC’s financial team really helped us determine what size building we needed and what we could afford.” said Marc Wells, member of First Baptist Church, Grove City. Wells as project manager took a lead role in helping train many First Baptist volunteers who worked many weeks to complete the project. Groups of BFC volunteers came weekly for a number of weeks to help.

The 32,000 square foot building involved considerable coordinating among volunteers and team leaders. Here again, Builders for Christ offered their expertise and knowledge. “The information booklets they gave out to all the site coordinators were great.” Wells said.

The project was completed in the Spring of 2008.

First Baptist Church—Monroe, Ohio

“What I love about Builders for Christ is how they embrace the whole project—it’s incredible,” said Pastor Bill Liston of First Baptist Church Monroe. “They were extremely helpful with financing and helping us make good decisions. Their help was invaluable. They were unpaid consultants.”

First Baptist Church Monroe had been anticipating a build for the last 15-20 years. Lack of space was limiting children’s activities and fellowship and inhibiting growth. A number of individuals recognized the need and gave generously to the cause. One donor provided funds for the exterior brick. Another donated for the ceramic tile. A third paid for the cost of landscaping materials and labor in honor of his father. Then came the builders.

Over 600 BFC volunteers gave of their time and talent to build a new 10,000 square foot facility. “We are there to help build a tool, which they can use to reach people for Jesus. That’s our goal. That’s our plan. If they do that, then we’re successful.” said Allan Ivemeyer, the BFC Project Coordinator on site. Ivemeyer oversaw a team of 17 from Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Birmingham and a group of 20 from FBC, Winfield, Missouri.  The Winfield church had received help from BFC in 2004 and has been sending a construction mission group every year since.

Ivemeyer spoke of the volunteers’ dedication to the project: “I have been in the construction business all of my life. But when you are working with volunteers, it is totally different. Most of them don’t have construction skills, but it’s amazing how great they are at working hard and getting the job done with a Christian work ethic.” 

“Builders for Christ helped in so many ways, but more than anything, they gave the church a spiritual boost,” said Liston. “The builders’ participation in worship services and help with Vacation Bible School was such an encouragement to the congregation. Their influence and what we saw in them ignited a fire in our church.”

Ebenezer Baptist Church—Logan, Ohio

“The Lord sent BFC along at just the right time,” said Pastor Steve Hubbard of Ebenezer Baptist Church. “We were meeting in a building that could hold about 90 people, and we were running about 180. People were sitting in overflow rooms. Three Sunday school classes were meeting in the parsonage and two were meeting in a building behind the church. We were way out of space and in desperate need to build.”

Much generous giving went into Ebenezer’s current facility. “The Lord blessed us with 61 acres, which someone donated.” Pastor Hubbard explained. There then came 730 volunteers. “We could not have built the building we now have without Builders for Christ. It would have been a financial impossibility.” In the summer of 2008, Builders for Christ sent 730 volunteers from 18 states to Logan. The team, led by Lawrence Corley, helped build a 12,500 foot facility including a sanctuary for 300, educational space, office space, and a kitchen. Hubbard estimated that BFC gave $900,000 in labor and other items. In addition, he estimated the volunteers expended about $730 each in transportation, food, and housing, totaling $330,000 out of their own pocket. “They invested as much as we invested when you include what they spent out of pocket.” He said. “From that perspective, BFC absolutely made it possible. They helped with the up front planning process and through every phase of construction. Mr. Lawrence also gave us ideas on future expansions.”

Now, Ebenezer is passing on this spirit of generosity. The congregation made a commitment as a church to reciprocate and send teams to help other churches. In the summer of 2009, Ebenezer sent a team of 15 to Eudora, Kansas and starting in October, the church has been sending teams on weekends to a building project in Ironton, Ohio. Next summer, the church plans to send volunteers to help build a chapel for Midwestern Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. 

 “I’ve done a lot of missions work since 1988 and have seen a lot of building teams and ministries, but I have never seen an organization as organized as BFC.” Pastor Hubbard said. He went on to highlight the overriding emphasis of BFC. “I have never seen a building ministry more interested in the spiritual health and well-being of the church. BFC wanted to know what was going on in the life of the church before anything we discussed anything about a building.” Meanwhile, the life of Ebenezer Baptist Church continues to thrive. The congregation is making plans to expand to accommodate their continued growth. “We’ve talked to Mr. Lawrence, and, Lord willing, BFC will help with the second phase.”

The stories above represent many more congregations with whom Builders for Christ has served. Through each story, a common thread can be seen: BFC does more than build buildings. It is a ministry. It is a witness. It develops leadership; and through its labor, many have come to know Jesus Christ.

Contact information:

To find out more about how Builders for Christ may be able to help your congregation,

or how you or your team would like to volunteer visit the BFC website, www.babfc.org, or e-mail babfc1981@gmail.com. You may also contact Earl Rhyne at 205-979-5050.