Covenant News

Volunteers Save Alaskan Church $130,000

BETHEL, AK (November 27, 2000) - A 55-by-85-foot structure owned by Evangelical Covenant Church of Bethel is in its final stages of development, thanks to the efforts of a host of volunteers from two parachurch ministries.

Faith in Action ministries from Wisconsin and Hard Hats for Christ, based in Washington, donated approximately two weeks of time and some two dozen workers to transform a structure that formerly served as an Alaska Air terminal for educational use by the church. National Covenant Properties participated in funding of the project.

The building was moved to the church property last summer and was positioned adjacent to the sanctuary. Sanctuary roofing was improved and a 12-by-30-foot extension was constructed as a passage-entrance joining the two structures. Plumbing and electrical work also was completed by the volunteers.

Heating and electrical work is expected to be finalized in coming months. Carpeting and painting projects will be finished next year and pastor Rodney Sawyer expects the $500,000 Christian education wing to be fully operational by next spring.

"We had two work crews that probably saved us $130,000 in labor and allowed us to purchase the materials we needed for the buildings," said Sawyer. "It's been a complicated mess, but they (the volunteers) took a building that was beat up and when they left, the outside work was done," Sawyer said. "I must have been asked 15 times if those people were for hire. They were a real testimony to the people of Bethel."

The Bethel church averages 100 to 120 in attendance. Future plans include an addition to the sanctuary, which will enable the church to accommodate approximately 150 individuals for worship services.

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