wfn.org | Volunteers to build dreams into reality

["Wilma Shuffitt"<wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>]

Date: February 15, 1999
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

99b-8

	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The dreams of a new Columbus, Ohio, 
congregation's first building are almost reality. Vision 
Builders! Construction, the Disciples volunteer program 
supporting new congregations, is finalizing plans with New 
Fellowship Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to join 
construction crews that begin May 1. 

	Volunteers from Disciples congregations across the nation, 
in partnership with New Fellowship Christian Church, will 
help construct a ministry center that includes a 
multipurpose room for worship and community service, 
classrooms, an adult training center and day-care 
facilities. More than 400 volunteers will join members from 
the southeast Columbus church, June 1 to  Sept. 1, to 
construct the 8,000-square-foot building on a site owned by 
the congregation. 

	Skilled and unskilled volunteers from across the 
denomination will provide most of the construction labor. 
The talents and gifts for building of members of the 
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will enhance and 
expand our denomination's resources and the resources of 
New Fellowship Christian Church, said the Rev. Lee Parker, 
regional minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of 
Christ) in Virginia. 

	Plans for this first Vision Builders! Construction 
volunteer project began nearly two years ago with a search 
for new congregations that needed a first building. The 
timing was right for New Fellowship. For 10 years the 
congregation has met in six different locations including a 
funeral home, according to Nolita Squires, youth minister 
at New Fellowship. 

	Under the leadership of the Rev. David Foster, New 
Fellowship had grown to 80 members, purchased land and 
begun planning with Board of Church Extension to meet the 
pressing need for a new building. It was this need that 
ultimately led to the selection of the growing church as 
the first Vision Builders Construction! volunteer partner 
congregation. 

	New Fellowship Christian Church has a dream and vision of 
offering skill training in child care, cosmetology and food 
preparation. The architect's drawings and site plan include 
provisions for the broad variety of ministries.  

	Members of the congregation told Vision Builders! 
Construction planners of their vision, built upon God's 
call, and their desire to faithfully respond. Upon hearing 
of the national extent of the volunteer participation, New 
Fellowship member Ann Price, exclaimed, "I can't believe 
that people all over the country would care that much about 
us. It's a dream come true!" 

	Disciples are encouraged to be a part of New Fellowship's 
dream. Members may go to Columbus this summer to volunteer, 
or offer support and prayers for the project and the 
congregation. To apply as a volunteer, or for more 
information, contact the Vision Builders! office at P.O. 
Box 7030, Indianapolis, IN 46207. Interested persons also 
may call (800) 274-1883, or send electronic mail to 
vb@bce.disciples.org. 

	The Rev. Chuck Babcock (cbabcock@bce.disciples.org) is the 
coordinator of the Vision Builders! Construction project in 
Columbus. 
 
	Vision Builders! Construction is the volunteer component 
of Vision Builders!, the development and promotional arm of 
New Congregation Establishment of the Christian Church 
(Disciples of Christ). The Rev. Deborah R. Thompson is 
director of Vision Builders! The Rev. Vertie Powers is 
director of New Congregation Establishment.

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