By Jessica Ingram
The Alabama Baptist
In 2016 the members of Antioch Baptist Church in Hannibal, Missouri, felt their hearts break as their church burned to the ground. In 2018 a team from Bethel Baptist Association dedicated a week of its summer to help the church rebuild and heal. The Bethel Baptist Builders (BBB) traveled to Hannibal from June 11–15 to begin construction on the new building’s walls and roof.
“Their church building held many memories, and they were devastated when the building burned,” Janelle Baker, a member of the BBB team, said. “But they prayed and decided to move forward to rebuild.”
Baker said the BBB team prayed that as the walls went up, healing would begin for the members of Antioch.
‘Fruitful history’
This year’s trip is another chapter in the fruitful history of BBB. Since 1986, BBB has been traveling far and wide to help churches and ministries with their construction needs.
As BBB helps churches across the country, volunteers from those churches begin serving with the team. Each year the number of volunteers grows and becomes more widespread.
Volunteers came from across generations and across the map to lend a hand in Hannibal. They had 124 people volunteer their vacation time to help Antioch Baptist, ranging in age from 10 months to 89 years old. They even had two women, ages 80 and 83, drive more than 14 hours to participate in the missions trip. People traveled from Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and as far away as California to help the BBB team.
“Our goal is always to finish. But at the end of the week, no matter where we stop, it is exactly where the Lord intended us to be,” co-director of BBB Danny Baker said. “Obstacles may occur, but we just leave it in God’s hands. We were able to put up walls, rafters and roof with decking.”
Everyone on the team played a critical role, whether it was working construction, leading a children’s Bible study or preparing home-cooked meals. No matter the project or job, the team wanted to show the hope and love of God through its work.
“Putting Scripture in action is what we do,” said Lorie Walker, a member of BBB team.
The team is already excited about what God will do during next summer’s trip. Entire families — dads, moms, children, youth, grandparents — reserve this same week in June every year as a time to help the BBB.
“Each trip is always unique, but all have the same purpose, which is to show the love of Christ with our hands,” Walker said. “We minister in many different areas such as carpentry, cooking, sewing, children’s ministry and even hair cutting. We may use a hammer and nails, pan and spoon, crayons and markers, scissors and clippers, needle and thread, bottles of water, a friendly smile or just a listening ear. Whatever tool we may use, it is always with the love of Christ that we use them.”
Team members also know Who is really in charge of each trip, said Eugene Corley, BBB director.
God’s plan
“Our team knows that it is all about what the Lord has planned for us,” Corley said. “When things happen, the Lord already has a plan in place for us, whether it is for a place for us to go, for the next person to be in charge or to lead a crew. Whatever needs that arise, He is getting us ready for the next chapter. We never know what is around the next corner but we all know He is preparing us.”
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