What a difference a week makes? Bee Ridge Congregational Church witnesses God’s plan come together

Sunday, June 16, 2019
It’s been a week since the Carpenters for Christ volunteers began the Bee Ridge Congregational Church project on West Hendrix Street, Brazil. A week later, a 7,200 square-foot building stands where only a concrete foundation was the week before.
IVY JACOBS photo

The new Bee Ridge Congregational Church, located at 3010 West Hendrix Street, still needs a little work to be completed but it’s now a reality for the congregation.

While Summers didn’t have the opportunity to meet every volunteer working at the Bee Ridge site Saturday morning when the project started, he estimated there were crews from approximately 14 states involved.

According to Pastor Jeff Bridgewater, the members of the congregation have been fundraising and working toward the dream of a new building for decades. Although they had raised a good amount for the building, it was apparent it was going to take a lot longer than expected.

But then, the pastor said, God intervened, and the Carpenters for Christ ministry got involved.

Volunteers from 14 states around the United States traveled to the Wabash Valley and began working on Saturday, June 8.

“We are going to get as much done as we can,” said Bill Summers one of two co-coordinators (Steve Fuller is the other.) on the first working day, but admitted the building would probably still need to have some work completed – like the choice of siding, roofing and complete the landscaping and heating/air conditioning. “They should be able to use it if they wanted to.”

A week later, a 7,200 square-foot building stands where only a concrete foundation was the week before.

“It’s just simply amazing,” Bridgewater said about the amazing project. “Absolutely amazing. Because of the help of Carpenters for Christ, they literally doubled what our budget is going to be able to do. This whole process has been incredible, and there have been so many people in our community that helped make this happen.”

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