By Staff
SALISBURY—Seventeen volunteers from the Bethel Baptist Association arrived here Aug. 30 to begin work on First Baptist Church’s new multi-purpose building.
The foundation for the new structure had been in place for several weeks, and the church was looking for a volunteer group to assist them with the next phase of the project. However, with the foundation not being finished until mid-summer, it was not anticipated that a group could be found until next spring. Bad weather greatly increased the need to find a crew as soon as possible.
On July 18, a torrential rainstorm hit Salisbury, and church members arrived that morning to find the basement flooded. Because the basement housed the nursery and children’s department, church members had to work quickly to move everything out. It was then decided that until the new structure was up the current facility would remain vulnerable to flooding.
First Salisbury Pastor Nathan Argent called his director of missions, Rick Hall from Crossroads Association, to ask him if he knew of a volunteer group that might be able to come on short notice. Hall mentioned Al Groner, director of missions, Bethel Baptist Association. Groner met with the church’s Building Committee Aug. 19 and helped arrange for a crew to come. They worked until Sept. 11 and finished the roof on the nearly 6,000-square-foot building.
“We are extremely grateful to the Lord for the group from Bethel,” Argent said. “They worked very hard and it was a blessing to be able to work with them.”
Besides the crew from Bethel, a large group from the church also worked on the project. Counting those who helped with meals, about 60 people were involved with many men putting in as many hours on the building as the volunteers.
The church also witnessed a couple of miracles. The forecast called for several days of heavy rain, but church members prayed and the rain stayed away. Twice it rained nearly all day throughout the region except in Salisbury.
“We are very excited,” said Argent said. “God has given us an opportunity to witness His power at work and we look forward to how He will use the new building as a tool to extend His Kingdom.”