MCMINNVILLE,Tenn. – More than 450 volunteers from five different states will finish construction on two churches in Warren County, as part of a mission called "A Unity Project".
Hundreds of volunteers are giving their time and money to help build the churches in McMinnville in only three weeks.
Pastor DeWayne Howard of Bridges of Hope Fellowship told News 2 Wednesday that he's watching a miracle go up before his eyes.
"We're a 3 1/2 year old congregation, no money in the bank. God said build it. We stepped out, and here it is," Howard told News 2 as members of churches from Macon, Georgia worked inside and out.
The sanctuary and classrooms of the church he pastors will be finished this week with only painting and some other details left to go.
Howard says his church is saving hundreds of thousands of dollars, including $200,000 in labor costs alone.
"It's a $650,000 building. We're building it for $175,000," Howard said.
Baptist church groups from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina have worked on the building, plus they have helped get a sanctuary for McMinnville Seventh Day Adventist Church off the ground.
"They have the money to buy the materials, but they don't have workers. We said, let's let our Baptist volunteers build their Seventh Day Adventist Building," said Pastor Howard, adding, "Yes, it is very unusual."
Harley Roth is pastor of the McMinnville Seventh Day Adventist Church, being built just a few miles down the road.
Roth said, "Our church has been wanting to build for decades, but there's never been an opportunity financially, or in coming together."
The volunteers started on the Adventist church last Thursday, and within less than a week, walls and a roof were in place.
Pastor Roth said, "It's surprising, because they're giving of themselves. What amazes me is that these people pay for the privilege. I understand it's about $300. They pay just for coming."
The groups even brought their own food and cooks, and some took vacation time from work to be there.
Don Hensley, who is retired, is volunteering with the Georgia group.
He explained his motivation for travelling to another state to help build a church for strangers.
Hensley said, "We're Christians, we love Christ, and we're trying to help somebody else have the opportunity to serve God."
According to a press release, "A Unity Project" aims to encourage both congregations to set aside any differences and to focus on the things that unite them.
"We want to stretch hands across denominational lines and reach other people," said Howard.
Many of the building supplies, concrete, and other items were donated by a number of different businesses from Murfreesboro and Nashville.
Both church buildings will be finished by Friday. ..
Pastor DeWayne Howard of Bridges of Hope Fellowship told News 2 Wednesday that he's watching a miracle go up before his eyes.
"We're a 3 1/2 year old congregation, no money in the bank. God said build it. We stepped out, and here it is," Howard told News 2 as members of churches from Macon, Georgia worked inside and out.
The sanctuary and classrooms of the church he pastors will be finished this week with only painting and some other details left to go.
Howard says his church is saving hundreds of thousands of dollars, including $200,000 in labor costs alone.
"It's a $650,000 building. We're building it for $175,000," Howard said.
Baptist church groups from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina have worked on the building, plus they have helped get a sanctuary for McMinnville Seventh Day Adventist Church off the ground.
"They have the money to buy the materials, but they don't have workers. We said, let's let our Baptist volunteers build their Seventh Day Adventist Building," said Pastor Howard, adding, "Yes, it is very unusual."
Harley Roth is pastor of the McMinnville Seventh Day Adventist Church, being built just a few miles down the road.
Roth said, "Our church has been wanting to build for decades, but there's never been an opportunity financially, or in coming together."
The volunteers started on the Adventist church last Thursday, and within less than a week, walls and a roof were in place.
Pastor Roth said, "It's surprising, because they're giving of themselves. What amazes me is that these people pay for the privilege. I understand it's about $300. They pay just for coming."
The groups even brought their own food and cooks, and some took vacation time from work to be there.
Don Hensley, who is retired, is volunteering with the Georgia group.
He explained his motivation for travelling to another state to help build a church for strangers.
Hensley said, "We're Christians, we love Christ, and we're trying to help somebody else have the opportunity to serve God."
According to a press release, "A Unity Project" aims to encourage both congregations to set aside any differences and to focus on the things that unite them.
"We want to stretch hands across denominational lines and reach other people," said Howard.
Many of the building supplies, concrete, and other items were donated by a number of different businesses from Murfreesboro and Nashville.
Both church buildings will be finished by Friday. ..
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