wfn.org | Volunteers needed in Florida

["Office of Communications"<wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>]

Date: May 30, 2000
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
E-mail: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

00b-23

	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- Volunteers from as far away as Texas and Illinois 
have made their way to the future site of Mision Cristiana de Palm Bay, 
near Orlando, Fla., to assist with the Vision Builders! Construction 
build.

	Mision Cristiana de Palm Bay is a seven-year-old congregation with more 
than 100 worshiping participants in a growing area of Hispanic residents.

	The Rev. Jayna Powell, director of  Volunteers in Mission, and Doug 
Smith, Vision Builders! Construction volunteers coordinator, agree that 
there is a critical need for volunteers. So far, more than 100 volunteers 
have made their way to the building site but due to contractor delays, 
several have worked on alternative projects in the area. "We need 
immediate help with the building at Palm Bay," according to Smith. 
"Volunteers are needed between now and July 1 in order to get the church 
built."

	Faced with the challenge of unfamiliar construction techniques, 
volunteers have been learning to set reinforcement bars, lay block and 
pour concrete. "This opens up new levels of skills," says Smith. "From 
this point on, Volunteers in Mission will have a whole host of volunteers 
that can do more than just drywall and paint. This will expand the future 
possibilities of our ministries."

	Supervising the new church construction is Earl Watson, Elwood, Ind. He 
says progress on the building is steady and subcontractors have also been 
brought in to erect concrete walls and do the masonry work.

	Anyone who would like to participate in this dynamic new program of the 
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is encouraged to immediately 
contact the Vision Builders! office. "We need volunteers as quickly as 
possible," Smith urged.

	For more information on how to become a Vision Builders! Construction  
volunteer, call Anne Campbell at the Vision Builders! Construction office, 
1-800-274-1883; write c/o Board of Church Extension, PO Box 7030, 
Indianapolis, IN 46207, or e-mail Doug Smith at dsmith@dhm.disciples.org

	Vision Builders! Construction coordinates volunteers in helping to build 
church facilities with new congregations. The program is a joint 
partnership between New Congregation Establishment of Board of Church 
Extension and Volunteers in Mission of Homeland Ministries.

                    	-- end --

Editor's note: Enclosed is a  photograph from the church build project.

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