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.