Builders For Christ

As of 2009, our Construction Missions Teams have constructed or assisted four Church projects in Kansas, Ohio and Louisiana bringing the total to 53 since we began networking the work of our individual Teams. Several of the BFC teams returned to Chalmette to assist with the completion of the FBC building. Each of these Churches is in a position to expand God's Kingdom in powerful ways. Your commitment and hard work have provided facilities in 16 Northeastern and Midwestern states, and two in Louisiana, to allow these fine Congregations to grow and add depth to their ministries. More than 1,500 Volunteers from over 100 Churches and Associations served in Eudora, Monroe, Ironton and Chalmette within the Builders for Christ Network. These Churches will use their new facilities intensely as Tools of Ministry in their Community. It would have been several years before they would have developed enough strength to undertake their project without the help of Construction Missionaries.

Several of our Teams are continuing to assist FBC Chalmette. They have completed the main floor and the upper level to about 98%. That needs to be completed soon. The second floor will be completed when funding is available. At their September Dedication, they baptized 15, saw a profession of faith and 3 join by letter.

The leadership of twelve of our Builders for Christ Teams, who served in this Ministry last year, has reviewed information from Churches in Ohio, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Missouri. We also pursued and discussed projects in Maine, Massachusetts, Indiana, Wisconsin and Connecticut, but did not receive submittals from any of those Churches. We have found three (3) projects which appear to be very appropriate for the Builders for Christ Ministry this year. We have already completed initial visits and work sessions with all three of these fine Congregations. We sincerely feel God has called us to help all three Groups, to the extent we have resources. We are very pleased with all aspects of the possibility of a deep relationship between each of them through the many fine Teams who make up the Builders for Christ network. Let us share what we have learned.Please notice that a couple of years ago, that the "A" Team and the "B" Team swapped designations, only. The "A" Team is led by Lawrence Corley's Group and the "B" Team by Earl Rhyne's Group. The "C" Team will continue to be led by Allan Ivemeyer, while the "D" Team will be led by Gary Morrow, the Project Manager in Chalmette.

New Cov to be a part of project "A"- CHAPEL ADDITION TO MIDWESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY -- Kansas City, Missouri


Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) is one of 7 Southern Baptist Seminaries in our nation. It has educated pastors, missionaries and many other ministers since 1957, to better lead God's work. As is typical, most of the graduates are from and serve within 500 miles of their Seminary. Midwestern is our institution to ensure that God's word is taught and God called ministers are well prepared to lead the expansion of God's Kingdom in our nation's heartland. 45 of their students are training to become career missionaries. President Phil Roberts has led MBTS to significantly increase the quality of education at MBTS during his 9 years. For his entire life, he has been a leader in both international and our national mission work.

The project is a 1,000 seat Chapel, large vestibule, a Missions Connection Center, a Prayer Wall, a connecting corridor to two of MBTS's buildings and a Campus Reception Center, totaling 25,000 s.f. We will also "hull-in" the exterior of another 15,000 s.f. for future completion. The structure will be much like that of Eudora, last year. The design is friendly to the skills of volunteers, while the project size is very large. This will be the largest project completed by the "A" Team of BFC. Slightly more effort will be needed than for the Jacob's Well project.

The Seminary has connections with Baptist State Conventions, which should yield 300 to 400 additional volunteers, particularly during the Fall time frame. Missouri Baptist Builders will construct our kitchen in May. The summer of 2009, we carried about 835 to Eudora; the total needed for this project is estimated to be 1,400 to 1,500. Obviously we need each of our teams to grow, as well as for new teams to join the coordinated effort to do such a large task for God. If each of us talks to others early, it will be more effective.

The Seminary Staff, their Regents and others are already actively preparing to support the project and the needs of BFC Construction Missionaries. They look forward to sharing how they will support our needs at the Spring Coordination Conference on March 13, 2010 in Kansas City, Missouri. It is located about 8 miles south of the Kansas City airport, off I-29.

Our New Cov Builders for Christ usually heads out to serve the weekend closest to the 4th of July. We will keep you posted as the date will be decided on for sure during the Conference March 13th.

KC is close so it is a great year for first timers to go and check it out, rather than having to travel halfway across the country. We will have more details after the spring meeting at the end of March. If anyone has any questions they can call me 402-730-5529.



Thank-you very much!!

Joe Butt