Outside Shots at Night

Check out these shots as well as some update building pictures in our photo gallery.

First Night for the Edge

Here is a picture of middle school youth group last night...awesome night!!

We Made It!!

We did it...of course, with God leading the way! On Saturday, we got the building ready to hold our first weekend of services. And it was awesome! There was an excitement and a joy to be in our new space. Here are a few highlights....

• The expression on the elementary children's faces as they entered into their new space
• The service of volunteers throughout the new space...serving coffee, teaching children, leading worship, welcoming people at the doors
• 151 people in our first service....1634 people worshipping for the weekend
• Throughout the weekend, it was just seemless....smooth services as if was a typical Sunday
• HS youth walking into their own space on Sunday night....not having to borrow space anymore  

Thank you, God, for providing this tool to Jacob's Well and to the Chippewa Valley. We are humbled by the thousand people giving thousands of hours in this project. You're presence has been evident from the first day of this project through this weekend. We can't wait to see how you will use this new space.

Last of the work schedules to finish up projects

We had an amazing weekend with the building project. So many tasks have been completed and the back of the building looks great. Thanks to all who came out! It was a fun weekend working...awesome teamwork!! Here are the remaining work dates and tasks to get done before our first service on November 13:

Wednesday, November 2 (5-9pm)- carpeting in Elem. Theater, Welcome Center and work room; cleaning main baths

Saturday, November 5 (8-2pm, lunch at noon) - carpet in café, move chairs into auditorium, clean doors and windows, water new sod and shrubs, pick up outside site

Wednesday, November 9 (5-9pm) - move chairs into classrooms, finish all cleaning, install any last carpet and base in building

Saturday, November 12 (8-Noon)- finish any tasks if needed

Upcoming Work Nights

Here are the next work nights....

Friday Night 6-9pm
Saturday 8am - 2pm (lunch at noon)

We'd like to finish the classrooms completely this weekend...that means putting on the base now that the carpet is on, cleaning, touch up painting and maybe installing carpet in the elementary theater. It's fun at this stage of the project to see rooms completed!

No need to sign up....just show up.

Thanks to all who came out this week. We completed the carpeting in the hallway!!!

More Carpet Today!!

Carpet in the classrooms is now complete!!! Way to go, Saturday Team!!

Blacktopping the new parking area

Last Night's Work Crew

Last night, the work crew put in carpet in three of the classrooms!

Concrete is being poured this morning....

First Service - November 13

Our first service is approaching. Last weekend during our worship services, we announced the first 10:00am service will be on Sunday, November 13. That allows us less than a month to get the last building tasks completed. Our original target date for completion was October 30 and we'll still keep that from a sub-contractor and volunteer work perspective. We have two weeks of work dates this week and next.

This week on site, here is the work to be done....

• Paving the parking lot
• Retaining wall completed
• Concrete patio poured
• Carpet in 3 of the classrooms
• Plumbing and bath fixtures finished

With every passing day, it becomes clearer to see how incredible the new space will be for the youth. Both MS and HS youth groups are eager with anticipation of opening the building!!

Work Days this week

We have two last weeks for work days. We're cleaning the site, putting in carpet, putting on outlet plates and other finishing touches. Here are the times volunteers can come out.

5-9pm Tuesday
5-9pm Wednesday
6-9pm Friday
8-Noon Saturday

New Pictures!!

Check out our new pictures! See the slideshow on the right side of the blog. Answers to prayer. Carpet and chairs are on site. Granite counter tops are in and are awesome! Most of the room lighting is in the auditorium. We are ready to lay carpet this week, volunteers!!

Fun Day!

The team of 8 volunteers who showed up today and worked hard. The parking lot is almost completely cleared and ready for blacktop. The garage is now all organized and the building has been cleaned up. Much work was done in the student auditorium and now ready for the contractors and week night volunteers to continue with stage construction, electrical and sound install.

Also, the site is ready for carpet, bathroom fixtures, and cafe area countertops.

Great day on the site!

Work Day - Saturday

I am organizing a work day on Saturday to clean up in the building and our future parking lot. Greg hopes to have the parking lot paved in the next couple of weeks. If you can help, shoot me an email (patrick@jacobswellec.org)...or if you can't commit now...just show up. I'll be on site from 7am-11am on Saturday.

We'll have both regular work crews this week.....tonight and tomorrow night.

The stage and the tiered seating are being built today! It really addes a new dimension to the auditorium!!

First Service!!

We have set a date for our first service in the new addition. We are planning for Sunday, October 30th to have the back of the building open for children's ministry and the front of the building will launch our 4th service, which will be a 10am Sunday service. There is much work to be done, but we believe we can get there by the 30th.

This is NOT our grand opening service. We would like to try out the new venue for a month or so before we have an official grand opening service. We'll have many kinks to work out....stay tuned to hear when that date becomes set!

Thanks Saturday Crew

Greg was thrilled this morning when he told me about the progress the Sat. morning crew made. Much of the BFC trailer is packed up and lots of building clean up and other projects were accomplished! Thanks to all who came out to help!!

We'll have more work nights and Saturdays as we get closer to getting a date on the calendar of when we'll host our first service.

By the way, did you see the tower this weekend?? It is finished....and it looks great!!

New Cafe!!

The cafe area is starting to take shape. It will serve as our HS and MS cafe on youth nights.The cafe will be a second Oasis area on Sundays.  In a week or two, a granite counter top will be placed on it...which will give it an awesome feel!

Sat. Morning Work Crew

Hey JW! We are looking for help on the building site tomorrow (Saturday) between 7am-Noon. We would like to get the BFC trailer organized and packed up. What a resource those tools and equipment was to use. We haven’t had a specific construction clean up night in several weeks, so the the building is in need of some clean up. Greg, our construction manager will be around giving direction. Just show up at the site in the morning even if it only for a couple of hours.

While out there, you'll get to see the progress....children's theater lighting, interior doors all over the place, the two connectors are being worked on, and front tower has window frames in them!

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Site News

Time to fill you in on the project....it has been too long.

First, and foremost, we have amazing people at Jacob's Well. We have had three weekly work nights for the past 4-5 weeks. These teams have just taken the orders Greg has provided and worked as hard as they could to get work accomplished. These teams have been crucial in getting sod laid, stages built, acoustical wall treatment designed and installed, light fixtures hung, along with many other project or clean up needs. Thank you to the leaders (Rick, Rick, Roxann) and all those who have served on those teams.

Here are a few updates on the building....

• Retaining wall is complete around the back half of the building. They will continue working on it as they make their way to the front
• Sod has been delivered and laid behind and around the side of the building
• Tower to be finished? We have had some delays but hopefully this week the tower will be complete
• Most of the interior doors are hung (Thanks Gary!!)
• Cafe area ceiling and walls have been painted...looks great!
• Floors have been scrubbed and cleaned in back half of the building in prep for carpet

We'll try to get you some fresh pictures of the progress in the next week or two.

Couple of prayer requests....please pray for the arrival of the carpet and the chairs. Once we know the delivery of both, we will be able to lock down our date for the first service!!

Check out this view!!

Thanks Darren for this awesome shot!! And thanks to JJ and all the photo team members. You've provided us with great photos during the project.

Check out the latest pictures by clicking on the slide shows on the right side of the screen.

Retaining Wall

We are putting up our retaining wall. The pictures you see here are near the back corner of the new addition. This wall will wrap around the side and front of the building ending at the front tower. Lots of wall. Dan, Jeff, and Paul are working with our landscaper. They are making great progress today!

This Week's Progress

Just a quick update to you all from the building project. Here is some of the work that was accomplished this week or other items of note....

• Sheet rock in the auditorium is complete. 3/4 of the sheet rock on the ceiling was hung by volunteers. The only remaining sheet rock to be hung is behind stage.
• Stages, Booths and Ramps....there has been great progress with backstage ramps, elementary stage and sound booth. The youth auditorium backstage and drum stage is well underway.
• Evening Work Crews: We have had great response to our work nights. 60 people will have put an evening of work in on the building.
• Lights, Lights, Lights: The hallway and classrooms all have lights installed and on! It make a difference when you see the room lighting in place. That entire part of the building has been painted too. It is nearly ready for the next stage....waiting the arrival of the carpet!
• Baptistery has been set. It is really fun to see the baptistery set in place. Now it is idea time to see how to finish it out. We have some great ideas in the works.
• Front Tower: The top half of the tower is near completion. Hopefully tomorrow or early next week the tower will be finished.

Have a great and safe holiday weekend!

JW Volunteer Week

Wow, this week has turned into a big Jacob's Well work week. We've had volunteers from Jacob's Well every day and night this week. Over 70 volunteers have been on site. Several weekly work groups have formed in the evenings. If you want to join any of them, they will be working on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday next week. Call the office for details.

Also this week, we've made great progress with our telephone and data cabling. A team from Georgia had put in long, long days installing the cabling. These guys are saving us thousands of dollars with the work they are doing. The will be taking off tonight making the 17 hour journey back to GA. A big thanks to Kyle and his crew.

Lawrence Corley has been on site this week, inspecting the progess and giving us feedback on how we can finish the project in the most cost effective, timely way. Lawrence always provides great insight during his visits. We are grateful for his trip this week.

Last but not least, we had some great news on the giving for the project. Over $43,000 came in this week really narrowing our financial gap. Praise God for how He shows up!

From our high school youth pastor, John Eiselt

“They’re so excited that we’re here.”

I’ll never forget this remark from a high school student as we pulled into summer camp one year. The entire camp staff was lined up cheering for our kids as we pulled in. For the students arriving at camp, this moment set the stage for their entire week-long experience. They felt important, welcomed, appreciated, and loved just for being there. The very things we want for our students to feel as they hear about, come to know, and grow in their walk with Christ.

Sadly, many of our high school students spend most of each day struggling to feel important and trying to fit in, not only into their own social world, but into the world of adults as well.

Chap Clark, a renowned author, youth worker and vice provost at Fuller Theological Seminary wrote a book called ‘Hurt’ after months of research looking at the world of adolescents.

He states that the greatest struggles that teens face today have to do with a lack of adult involvement in their lives. Instead of a message like the students received at camp that summer, the subliminal yet ever present message they receive from adults is a message to, “Perform, conform, or have an image that is pleasing to me”. He goes onto to explain, “Therefore, they’re under multiple agendas throughout their life.”

So what does this mean?  How do we step into the lives of teenagers differently than we have before and differently than most of the adults in their lives?

This doesn’t mean that agendas or rules or expectations are wrong or harmful in and of themselves. It simply means that when we take out the relationship, it is replaced with rules, or agendas that serve the interests of the adult or institution rather than the interests and needs of the child.

What this means is that adolescents need relationships with adults. Deep, caring relationships full of acceptance, grace, and trust. The opportunity to guide and offer direction is second to these first critical components that build relationships that earn the right to be heard.

Bill Milliken, author and activist for communities and youth says it this way….

“It’s relationships, not programs that change children. A great program simply creates the environment for healthy relationships to form between adults and children. Young people thrive when adults care about them on a one to one level, and when they also have sense of belonging to a caring community."

As I think about, pray about, and dream about what this building-this space-means to our high school kids, I believe it will be the manifestation of this quote and a tangible example of the kingdom at work. I believe that they will find a caring community of adults here. I believe they will thrive in the relationships we’ll build with them. I hope for them that it is a picture of the kingdom. I hope for it to set the stage for an overwhelming feeling of importance, love, and acceptance every time they step in the door.  The building and the space create an atmosphere and a place like none other in the Chippewa Valley for this to happen. For many it will be a launch pad for a life changing relationship with an adult who knows them, it will be a launch pad for them to come to know Jesus and, it will redefine for them what involvement in a church and in a caring community looks like.

It looks like Jesus.

And I believe they will experience the same emotion upon encountering Him as they do when they step through the doors and say to one another, “They’re so excited that we’re here.” - “Yes, we are!”

Week Wrapping Up

Tuesday night was hopping around here. There were 15-20 people who were out on site for our work night...moving stuff, throwing stuff, putting up plastic for painting, tackling projects here and there. Thanks to all who could come out.

Here's what is happening on site this week:

• Back Half of the Building: Has been taped and mudded. Sanding and texturing in that part is currently being worked on; by the end of next week all classrooms, children's theater and hallway should be painted
• The tile floors in the bathrooms have all been laid
• Light fixtures are installed in the cafe and just starting in the back rooms
• About a third of the stonework on the tower has been completed. Next week that should be complete.
• Inside doors will all be delivered by early next week
• Carpet and chairs have been ordered

We're having work nights on Tuesday and Wednesday nights next week. Come on out from 4-9pm if you want to lend a hand.

Evening Work Crews

Tonight's Crew: We had our first post-BFC work crew tonight. It went very well. We scraped and swept the floors and put down paper to prep for the painting. We also cleaned up some around the site. Thanks to the volunteers who helped out tonight.

The following dates are the work nights on the schedule. Come anytime from 4-9pm.

Tuesday, Aug. 16 (tomorrow)
Tuesdsay, Aug. 23
Wednesday, Aug. 24

Week K Builders for Christ profiles

With our last week of Builders for Christ groups that came in, we have Bob and Sue Steen from Valley Baptist Church in Appleton, WI who shared with us a little about themselves.

There were 24 people in their group. Sue helped prepare meals, and Bob worked on ceiling tiles. They have 3 grown children. Bob works as a chemist and Sue is a homemaker. They have been members of Valley Baptist for 9 years. They're involved in adult discipleship and financial counseling. They have been working 9 years with their church's building team, many of those with Builders for Christ. They enjoyed getting to know the people on the other teams and members of Jacob's Well.

Thanks so much to all the teams from Week K. We'll miss having everyone around. It's been great to catch up with people we met in 2006 and getting to know some new brothers and sisters. God Bless you!

It's Cabinet Week!

 The cabinets that were made in Virginia by volunteers in the spring. They were delivered across country three weeks ago and this week they are being assembled and installed. These folks make high quality cabinets. Sawdust is flying, drills are going to town, and people are busy putting cabinets together in each of the rooms.

The Welcome Center and our new Oasis (cafe counter) are going to be attention drawing features in our new gathering area. We hope you can see them soon in person. For those who can't we'll get pictures of those cabinets.

Goodbye and hello

We're sad to say goodbye to the Kansas team that's been working on the building during Week J.  We're so very grateful for all the hard work they put in this week.  They've gotten lots of sheetrocking done and put the doors in.  They gotten a bunch of the siding finished on the front of the building.  It looks awesome!!  We pray for safe travels back home and for God to bless them in their own ministries.  Thank you Kansas!!!

At the same time, we have more teams coming in this weekend.  These are the last teams for Builders for Christ this summer.  We'd like to welcome teams for Week K.  They're from....

• Chesapeake, VA
• Monroe, OH
• Appleton, WI

Over the summer it's been wonderful to catch up with people we met on the first build and get to know new people.  We'll definitely miss spending time with all these big-hearted workers.  What a blessing they've been to us!!

Can you imagine??

This is a picture of the children's theater. Can you imagine the crazyness that is going to go on in this room?? It's gonna be awesome!

The doors are going in

The doors between the two buildings have been taken out and have been moved to the outside walls.  It leaves a literal "hole in the wall" as you walk to the new building.

Week J is in Eau Claire

Welcome to the 16 folks from the Kansas City area along with the 5-6 members from Jacob's Well. We look forward to another good week. Here are the projects being worked on the building:

• Most of the remaining sheet rock is going to be hung
• Finishing up of the sprinkler installation
• Jeb continues on with a couple of volunteers working on electrical
• Lighting fixtures will be installed in the cafe and other areas of the building
• Much of the classrooms and children's theater will be sanded, textured and painted
• Siding on the front of the building
• Beginning to lay ceiling grid
• Installing of exterior doors around the building

Should be another busy week on site!

Stage view of new youth auditorium

Paul Behnke comments below on what the new space means to him as the middle school pastor.

The other day I was at the mall and observed a couple of things about students.  There are some stores that students feel comfortable in and there are others that they just don’t.  Students feel comfortable entering stores that they feel are for them.  No average student goes into “Fashion Bug” and no average adult goes into “Hollister.”  Each store is designed for a target audience.  If a student walks into a store that isn’t designed for them, they won’t get past the environment enough to even look at the clothes.  This is why this building project is such a big deal.  There are certain places where students will feel comfortable and certain places where they don’t.  Over the last couple of years the youth have been going to youth group in a place that is not designed for them.  While there are many students that are able to get past the environmental constraints, there are some who don’t hear what we say because they don’t feel comfortable in the setting they are in.  Our goal in this building project is to design a building that is for students so that students will come and give us a chance to love and care for them.  But the reality is, even though this building may provide a comfortable and inviting environment, what happens after that is also very important.  What would happen if "Hollister" in the mall was designed for students to feel comfortable, but all they sold were cowboy hats and cowboy boots?  Well the students may enter the store only to find that the store doesn’t provide anything they need.  We need to not only create an atmosphere for students, but also to provide things that they need: a real and relevant gospel, a community of loving students, and a community of loving adults. 

Thanks so much to everyone who's been a part of this building project.  You're creating a place where students will come.  But I challenge you, will you also do something to help create a place where students will stay and find what they need?  They need you.  Adults that love and care for them enough to take the time to get to know them. 

Builders for Christ Profiles for Week I

Norm Hadeen and Peggy Livermore are both from Redeemer Baptist Church in Aurora, Colorado.  They were both willing to share a little bit about themselves with us this week.  We're so grateful to them and their team of 14 for helping us touch lives here in the Chippewa Valley.

Norm has been pulling electrical wire as well as installing sheetrock and insulation and exterior siding.  He's a retired computer programmer and enjoys giving time for the Lord's work.  Builders for Christ built their church in 2003, and Norm's been working with them every since.  His favorite part of the week is working with his brothers and sisters in Christ and knowing that they are doing a service for the local church.  It's an inspiration for them to be able to help.  When asked if there was anything else he'd like to share, he said, "We were here in 2006 to help build Jacob's Well original building and this is the first time to return for the second phase.  It is very exciting to see all the things going on here in Eau Claire."

Peggy has been working in the kitchen all week.  She's the mother of 3 sons and 2 wonderful daughters-in-law with the addition of another next year.  She has a grandaughter who is 18 months old and is expecting another in February.  This is Peggy's 4th year with Builders for Christ.  She says about her favorite part of the week, "We cook meals just like we are cooking for family, which we are.  I enjoy seeing everyone sitting around the tables enjoying the food and each others company.  Meal time is a great time to meet new people and begin new friendships."  Peggy also shared, "With the kitchen being located within the church building we could see the coming and going of a lot of the people within the church.  Many of them would stop by to talk, find out what we were cooking, and eat a brownie or cookies.  We were impressed by the number of teenagers and how much work they were doing around the church.  We never heard them complain and they seemed truly happy to be participating and helping around the church."

Thank you to all of the team members from both Colorado and Ohio.  We are so grateful for your time and resources and energy.  We are truly humbled by your sacrifices!  God Bless you all!

Thoughts on the elementary auditorium

From Roxann Crotty, Jacob's Well Elementary Director

What does it mean to have this new space?

The other day I took a group of elementary kids through the new building.  I wasn’t sure how they would react or if they would even catch the vision.   I was awed by their excitement.  They ran from room to room trying to figure out where they would have small group.  When we got into the auditorium they “played out” a weekend service.  They stood on the “stage” as if to lead worship.  They were all talking amongst themselves about all the things that would take place in the service.   My heart jumped and my mind raced as I began to see what God could do with this “tool” he blessed us with.   I couldn’t even fathom the number of families who would walk through the doors-forever to be changed, finding a place to belong, to serve, to grow and to worship and share God’s love together and with other families.   We gathered together to pray and thank God.  One of the kids prayed that God would use this new building to make a difference in kid’s lives.  They weren’t caught up in the building and all its bells and whistles. They were caught up in the vision that Jesus has for our church.  LIFE CHANGE.  Simple, pointed, real…. LIFE CHANGE.  That’s what it is all about.  Life change.  Yes…I love the new stage, the cool lights, the space that is SO NEEDED….I picture the puppets, the skits, the worship…but now my only thoughts are on the words of that child.  “God, use this building to make a difference in kid’s lives!”

Most of siding is finished!

New Team - Week I

The two Builders For Christ volunteer teams got a special treat this weekend. Jacob's Well held our annual baptism service at a nearby park. God held off the rain and it was a wonderful time of worship outdoors along with a great message from Paul on salvation and baptism. After service, 37 people took their next step and got baptized! BFC teams were among the 500 who attended the outdoor service.

Two groups are here this week along with some Jacob's Well volunteers. About 35 people are serving on site. Welcome to Redeemer Baptist Church, from Aurora, Colorado, and Sycamore Ridge Baptist Church from Brookville, Ohio. We are grateful to have you join our project this week and look forward to meeting all of you. You have been given a perfect WI summer day to work.....low 80s and little humidity.

Week G Profile from Builders for Christ

Ken Harmon shared with us a little about himself.  He's from First Baptist Church of Newberry, South Carolina.  His group of 13 was working on siding, electrical, insulation, framing, sheet rock, and duct work.  Ken is 63 and married and the pastor of First Baptist of Newberry.  He's been working with Builders for Christ for 25 years!  Wow!  Just think of all the lives he's affected for the Kingdom.  That's not even counting the fact that he's a pastor.  Way to go!  His favorite part of his experience during the week was the work, the fellowship, and the opportunity to serve the Lord.  When asked if there was anything else he wanted to share, he said, "Jacob's Well is a most impressive church!"

Thank you Ken for all you've done for Jacob's Well and for your sharing your heart with us!  God Bless!

Thanks Team!

Thanks to all who were on site this week. We weren't sure all 100 volunteers would have work to do this week, but after Monday morning, everyone spread out to the different corners of the building. It is evident to see all the work they got done. The siding is nearly complete on three sides of the building....with only the front remaining. Construction on the tower continues to go on with sheeting and the roof going on. Nearly all of the interior walls, doorways, children's theater and hallway framing is finished. You see in the picture the backstage hallway in our future children's theater.

We pray for safe travel for the team's return trip....especially those on the 24 hr bus ride. Thank you for all you've done this week.

Next week the site will be quiet with the exception of some sub-contractors finishing up some projects. We're excited to have a team from CO and OH visiting us the following week and hope they can make it to our baptism service at a nearby park. Should be a great service!!

Baptistry Arrived Today!

The baptistry arrived from Texas today. It's going to be great to have a permanent baptistry in the addition.

Siding Going On!!

Check out the brick around most of the building is done and siding is going on around the back of the building. Great working weather for the folks yesterday!!!

Welcome Week G Teams

Among the 90 people here this week, over 40 traveled via coach bus over 22 hours (stopping only for food and gas) from North and South Carolina. Needless to say, they were happy to see Jacob's Well this morning! Many of the Builders For Christ folks joined in our second service, which was full...must have had over 500 kids and adults for second service this morning.

Welcome to teams from Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan and Nebraska! We are glad you are here and we look forward to your work on the building this week. Next on the work schedule is hanging more sheetrock, siding the exterior, and more duct work.

Good Bye Texas Teams

A big thank you goes out to all the folks from Texas who came last week. As you can see from the pictures the group were skilled at hanging sheetrock, stuffing insulation everywhere, framing out what is going to be a beautiful front tower entrance along with many other interior projects.

The children who were here for the week visited a cheese factory (run by members of Jacob's Well) in Cadott, Irvine Park in Chippewa Falls, and our local children's museum. We're glad they got to see some of the sites in our area.

At the end of the week, the team gave out some special awards....and I even got one =)!! Thanks for being here this week! - Patrick

Week F Team

Happy 4th of July!

Welcome to our teams from Texas! Today, we have on site groups from two different churches.

49 people from Parkside Baptist Church from Denison, TX (north of Dallas)
16 people from First Baptist Church from Cedar Hill, TX (south of Dallas)
Over 10 people from Jacob's Well are working alongside the Builders For Christ teams.

Besides working on the building project, the teams brought some of their children, and they are doing VBS activities with them. It's going to be a fun week.

Thanks Week E Team

A big thank you for the work, the cooking and the community to all of the Builders For Christ volunteers this week. Here are the four church teams that were on site and a brief description of what they accomplished....besides helping me gain five pounds with all the good food we've been eating this week.

Gardendale Baptist Church from Gardendale, AL
First Baptist Church from Tallahassee, FL
Immanual Baptist Church from Tallahassee, FL
First Baptist Church from Waterloo, IL

This Week's Progress...

• Insulation and more insulation in the walls (we need it warm in the winter)
• Front tower is being framed out. It's going to look awesome!
• General Jeb led an electrical team around all week
• Interior window frames being set in place
• Both the auditorium and children's theaters have more framing and sheetrock
• Mudding and taping in the classrooms
• Masonry brick by our mason contractor is making its way around the building

Great work, Team!!

Week E Builders for Christ Profiles

Here's a little info about Builders for Christ team members from Week E.

Donna Heald is from First Baptist in Tallahassee, Florida.  She came with 27 people this week and is working with the kitchen crew.  She's been working with Builders for Christ for 4 years now.  She's enjoying the fellowship and watching the work progress.  She says, "It was really special to have Jacob's Well members share their stories at lunch time.  Everyone has been really great to work with - wonderful facility - we also appreciate that you arranged for such great weather!"

Phil Davis is from Waterloo First Baptist in Waterloo, Illinois.  There are 16 people in his group this week.  Phil is working on carpentry and drywall projects.  He's a deacon and active in his church.  He's been married for 37 years with 4 children and 9 grandchildren.  He isn't quite to retirement age yet, so he's still working as an engineer and in management.

Phil's favorite experiences this week: seeing God working in His church; meeting, sharing, and serving with new people; accomplishing a task with other believers; good food and fellowship; learning new skills; and a chance to return to see Jacob's Well.  He was here during the original build.  Phil also says, "We appreciate seeing the active participation of Jacob's Well members in all phases of the project.  Your service and enthusiasm to see God's word brought to the Chippewa Valley encourages us all as we return home to our home churches."

Thank you Donna and Phil and all of the Week E team members for all you're doing for Jacob's Well!!  We appreciate your willingness to partner with us in our journey.

Week E: June 27-July 1

Builders for Christ Profiles

We thought it would be nice to learn a little more about some of our Builders for Christ team members.  We'd love to feature everyone, but we'll have to be content with just a couple people.  Here are two members from Week D.

Scott Siegler is from First Baptist Church in Eustis, Florida.  There were 16 people who came in his group last week.  He was working on electrical installation.  His team worked on electrical, framing, and in the kitchen.  Scott has worked with Builders for Christ for 11 years.  His favorite part of his experience at Jacob's Well last week was the testimony from Lucas from youth group about his mom and her growth in the things she struggled with.  Lucas, his brother and mom have grown into a close Christian family.  Scott also commented, "It was special to see a side of Jacob's Well most of us as adults do not see in our own church.  The youth and their testimonies throughout the week encouraged me and showed that your walk with Jesus is never complete but a work in progress."

Kim Taylor is also from First Baptist Church in Eustis, Florida.  She was working on cooking and serving the meals for volunteers alongside those from Ebenezer Baptist.  She's been working with Builders for Christ for 3 years.  Her favorite part of her week at Jacob's Well was all the connections that have been made and to see how God orchestrates everything perfectly.  As a mom of 2 teens, she will be able to share with them what God has put on her heart through the awesome testimonies of the youth and what this means to them.  Praise God! 

Thank you to Scott and Kim for sharing your hearts with us.  We're so grateful to you and to all of those who were a part of the Week D teams who worked long and hard hours for us.  God Bless you all!

Week E Team Coming

We're sending off Week D with a nice WI summer day today....70's today! Much better than the 50's yesterday. Thank you to all who were here for Week D!!

For Week E, we'll have around 60 people coming from Gardendale, Alabama; Tallahassee, Florida; and Waterloo, Illinois. There may be others coming and will learn soon enough over the weekend or on Monday morning! We will also have 6-8 people from Jacob's Well who will be on site too!

Here is the work list for this week....

Insulating and handing sheetrock throughout the building.
Installing door frames and finish off two classrooms to provide locked rooms on site.
Front tower construction.
Electrical wiring.
Plumbing rough in.

Welcome to town Week E Team! We look forward to meeting you Monday morning!

Progress in Week D

Great week from our team, which came from five different states. Thanks to Erwin, Scott, Todd, Chris, Kim, Bill, the Jeffcoat team and the rest for all you did this week. You even got to experience some WI spring as it was in the 50's today! I realize this is an incomplete list but as I walk around the site...this is the progress I noticed Week D accomplished!

• Duct work running everywhere! The furnace and AC units are being worked on. Lots of that infrastructure is getting placed.
• More interior walls framed; the children's theater is really taking shape.
• Lots of insulation installed and sheetrock hung; the auditorium walls are taking shape and a couple of classrooms in the back of the building are almost entirely sheetrocked.
• Soffit and facia around the edge of the roof is going up.
• Electrical wiring is everywhere; boxes and wires are showing up in rooms with walls.
• Some brick has started going on a couple places around the building.

A special thanks to Harry Jeffcoat for all the work he has done with the HVAC!! What a blessing he's been to our project!

Jacob's Well Youth

We had a work day with solid rain in the afternoon. Thankfully with the finished roof, plenty of work is being done. Duct work is being hung, sheet rock is getting up, more inside walls are being framed.

This week, the middle school students from Jacob's Well are having a local missions experience. During the afternoons, the group of 35 students are serving downtown at the B-Side Community. This week, they served meals, led children's ministry activities and painted a rental home associated with the ministry. 

Middle school pastor, Paul Behnke, youth leaders and the students are also helping out at the construction site in the evenings. They are handling the kitchen and construction clean up responsibilities for the week. Builders For Christ leaders have also given the students some building tasks to help get some materials prepared for the next day's work. A benefit of the students being on site has been to hear from them. During meals, students have been sharing their testimony and what their youth group means to them. It's encouraging to see youth making their faith their own and finding community through youth group.

Article in the Newspaper

We have been so blessed by the media coverage. They are really supporting us by sharing our story in this community. Staff writer, Christena O'Brien from Eau Claire's, Leader-Telegram, ran an article about the project and interviewed one of last week's leaders Ed Wills from Mt. Brook Baptist of Birmingham, AL. Awesome!!

Click on link. Leader Telegram Article - June 19th

Week D is quickly approaching!

As fast as we say good-bye to 110 friends, another group of new friends are coming. Please pray for safe travels for both those leaving and those coming. We have a busy transportation weekend for our logistics team. Pray for them and all the pick ups and drop offs that need to take place over the next few days. Below is a list of churches we believe will be here this coming week. Welcome Team D!

• Ebenezer Baptist Church of Logan, OH
• First Baptist Church of Eustis, FL
• North Valley Community Church of Odenville, AL
• First Baptist Church of Birmingham, AL
• Watson Chapel Baptist Church of Pine Bluff,  Arkansas
• Highland Crest Baptist Church of Green Bay, WI

Week C Winding Down

We have had a great week with the teams from Birmingham and Southaven. Our construction manager, Greg, continues to be impressed at the heart Builders For Christ have to serve and the pace that everyone works.

The local newspaper was out here today, so we hope to have our story in the paper over the weekend!

There are updated pictures in our "Construction Photo Gallery". Check out the progress for yourself. Just to summarize, the roof is completely shingled, all exterior windows have been installed, insulation and sheetrock are going on, electrical conduit is being run, heating and cooling duct work is being assembled, and the front tower was raised!!

Everyone from Week C, thank you on behalf of the congregation from Jacob's Well. You've blessed us with your hard work as well as your wonderful friendship. Come back to visit us if you are ever in WI!!

Roof is Shingled & Windows are In

The entire roof is now shingled and all the windows have been installed today. They are bringing in stacks of insulation. It is so fun to see these amazing volunteers in action!

First Day for Week C

Great first day! We have had a nice WI summer day....very pleasant weather today. The Week C Team jumped in and were eager to work this morning with many of them showing up by 6:30am. Check out the pictures of the progress.

Shingles are flying on, sheetrock is starting to be hung, even siding and windows are being worked on. Every corner of the building is being worked on today! It is hard to believe the progress these folks can make in a day.

Dear Father,
Thank you for what you accomplished through your servants from Builders For Christ. Thank you for their attitude, their work ethic and their heart to serve. Keep them safe this week while they work and encourage each of them. Help us at Jacob's Well use this building, this tool, to show others in this community the power of the Gospel as we love them and welcome them to join us on this journey of faith. May your name be honored and glorified throughout the Chippewa Valley. Amen.

BIG PRAYER REQUEST

We need the duct work to arrive from Birmingham! Pray it arrives tommorow. We have people here ready to work and we need these materials.

B Week's Progress

With the 35 volunteers on site or in the kitchen this week, they have a lot to feel good about. Here's some of what got accomplished by Friday morning....

• Much of the roof framing work has been accomplished. The ends of the building are time consuming and tricky.
• The two connecting hallways are looking good. Both have completed roofs and shingles are already on.
• Most of the roof is tar papered.
• Several parts of the roof have shingle rows started. This was designed, so the roofers next week can make quick work of laying shingles.
• The inside framing is coming along. Walls are up in the classrooms!
• Many little loose ends have been completed this week including trying to keep the site picked up and piles of wood organized. Construction is messy.

We are excited to show the Week C volunteers. Many will be arriving on Saturday and attending one of the weekend services. Pray for safety and ease of travel. Over 110 people are rolling in from...

• Meadowbrook Church of Birmingham, AL
• Mountain Brook Church of Birmingham, AL
• Valleydale Baptist Church of Birmingham, AL  
• Gracewood Church of Southaven, MS

We can't wait to meet the volunteers of Week C. See you soon!

All Star Kitchen Team

This week we've had a bunch of volunteers step up and help in the kitchen. Frank Jury has been our kitchen leader this week. He and the supporting cast have done an outstanding job preparing meal for the construction volunteers. Way to go, Frank and the Kitchen Team!!

Check out the link on the right side of this page for new pictures...Construction Photo Gallery for some up to date building pictures.

Week B - Update

We are grateful to see the weather break today...rather nice out there actually. We are having a great week. 15-20 local volunteers have been on site each day. People are coming to work hard and are determined to accomplish the tasks for the day. We've had 7-8 experienced carpenters or roofers each day leading the way. Here are some of the interesting things I've seen or heard:

• Seeing the guys on the roof sweating off 5 lbs.


• Tara climbing a ladder securing the roof to the building frame with hurrican clips. Go Tara!


• Tina razzing our construction manager, Greg. (Don't worry, Tina, he deserves it)


• Watching people who didn't know each other's names at 7am by 10am working together to put up a wall. Awesome work!

Thanks to the tradesmen who have served on site themselves or had some of their crew on site. Your leadership has been invaluable. We know how precious your time is. And thanks to those who didn't have a lot of construction experience but have made up for it with a heart to serve and eagerness to learn something new. We would not have made the progress we did without your efforts.

Look out behind you

A doctor & a firefighter built that wall behind them

Hot day at the work site

Way to go!

Way to go Saturday work team. It has been a long week, and we really needed some folks to come and get things put in order and get us ready for the next week. You have made us more organized, safer, cleaner and will encourage the Monday morning folks in a big way. We are ready for next week. It looks AWESOME!

Big trusses are done

Dedication of First Service

Tonight we want to dedicate this service to two special people, Riley & Barbara Brice. They were part of the founders of Builders for Christ and have been on every trip since 1981.  We met Riley the weekend before Katrina as part of the advanced team that came to establish a partnership with Jacob’s Well Church.  Riley returned to Eau Claire to help us plan our logistics for our first building.  Riley next returned to head the process that was used to build our current campus.  There are people who live here in the Chippewa valley here tonight who are going to heaven in part because of the work that Riley Brice did in planning, organizing, and laying out our building. Even now in heaven they are meeting people whose lives were touched because of the work Riley did. We will meet them someday, and we can tell them how their gift and service have touched us.

This week Riley and his wife Barbara went to be with the Lord passing away within 4 hours of each other. They had been married for over 50 years. Their passion for Christ and His church was evident in their life in service to Builders for Christ and their own local church, Brookwood Baptist Church.  Riley and Barbara are precious to the people who have worked on our building this week and so, for the last few days, they have served with heavy hearts; but they have honored the spirit of Riley and Barbara through building what we are standing in tonight. So while each Builders for Christ project is built with love, this building may have a little extra love as we remember these special people. It is all together beautiful and appropriate that these saints passed during the week of a Builders for Christ project. Riley’s heart is here with us celebrating the changed lives this new facility will mean.

So, tonight we dedicate this first worship service to the Glory of God and to the memory of Riley and Barbara Brice who lived their lives to the Glory of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our church Jacob’s Well is named after a story about a woman at a well in John 4. This woman came with a past, was alone, and was spiritually thirsty. She met Jesus at a place called Jacob’s Well and her whole life changed. That is the story for so many people. At the end of this passage Jesus tells his followers:

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
John 4:34-38

Praise God!

Last night's service was amazing. the trusses should be up by the end of the day. AMAZING progress. Go God.

Thursday, June 2nd

Another great day on the building site. The volunteers setting trusses made considerable progress as 3/4 of the trusses are now on the building. The sheeting (sheets of plywood) cover most of the trusses. With good weather in the morning, Builders for Christ volunteers will be able to finish setting trusses to the rest of the building. All the volunteers and onlookers were encouraged by the stunning visual progress of the building.

At lunch, Paul took an opportunity to have a little fun with Lawrence and Lillian Corley as they celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary. The celebration included gifts of matching cheese head hats for the couple (Paul assured as OSHA certified) and anniversary cake.

In the evening there was an informal worship service that included Builders For Christ volunteers along with a crowd from Jacob's Well. It was a meaningful service that included worship, testimonies from 4 individuals along with sharing from Paul and Lawrence. A great time together finishing off a great day!

Honoring the Corley's on their anniversary by making then true Wisconsinites

Tour the New Addition 7:00pm on Thursday 6/2/11

7:00pm Thursday evening - Praise, worship, testimonies, and tours of the new building addition. Join us for worship and celebration. We will have ice cream afterwards. Everyone welcome!

WQOW NEWS LAST NIGHT

First Truss

6:30am trusses fly.

Pray for safety as trusses go up today. Pray low winds

Prayer Request

First trusses are Up. Praise God. Pray for safety and low winds.

Tomorrow's Work

We hope to set trusses tomorrow morning first thing. It will be an important day as we need trusses in place to continue the work to work on the roof and continue framing. Please pray for the winds to be calmer, pray for the crane operator and all the volunteers who will be working high off the ground.

Meet the Week A Team

This week we've had close to 100 Builders For Christ volunteers on site. Here is where our fellow ministry partners have come from...

Birmingham, AL
Prattville, AL
Gardendale, AL
Fairhope, AL
Springfield, VA
Purvis, MS
Groton, CT
Bremen, GA
Ripon, WI
Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Alabama volunteers help build addition to Chippewa Falls church - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

Alabama volunteers help build addition to Chippewa Falls church - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

More News - WQOW Tonight!

Mike Joyce from news station WQOW, was here on site today taking footage and interviewing several people. Check out the story at 5pm, 6pm and 10pm!

So excited to have our local media to support us and share this news to the rest of the Chippewa Valley. Thanks, WQOW!

Prayer Request

We need the wind to cut down to fly the trusses. Pray for the wind to cut down by half.

NEWS CAST WEAU - Construction ministry volunteers help build local church addition

Construction ministry volunteers help build local church addition

Prayer Requests

Less wind. Safety as we put up walls and trusses.
Less rain.

Praise God for all the rain that missed us yesterday.

Amazing day.
Crane work tomorrow

Pray the wind is mild tomorrow.

Tonight's Newscast - WEAU News

NBC affiliate, channel 13 WEAU, came out to see the progress we did today! Check out Amelia Cerling at 6 and 10pm tonight. A big thanks to them for coming out to see us today.

We have made awesome progress!!

Praise God

The weather has missed us. Storms seem to be going north. Keep praying church. The work is going very well. About 30 JW folks working with about 100 folks from BFC. Go God! Display your glory.

Many People working on the slab today. Pray the rain stays away. Pray for great organization and for people to work efficiently. praise God! Pictures coming soon.

Pray we stay dry today.

Walls going up!

THE FIRST WALL IS UP!

Putting Wall Together. JW volunteers are working on building tonight with our BFC friends. Come get hands dirty.

Wood cut and in palace to make Walls

We are building walls today. Way to go JW volunteers and BFC advanced team.

Lawrence and his advanced team arrived in Eau Claire last night @ 2am. Working at JW at 8am.

JW Volunteers Working Last night

JW Volunteers Working Last night

JW Volunteers Working Last night

JW Volunteers Working Last night