Mar 20, 2024 Sharing Jesus through construction

“How can we use our church construction project to reach our community for Christ?” This question was raised by the Stone Ridge SDA Church Board in Zimbabwe. They realized that the massive project would bring attention to their church, which would open an opportunity to engage with the community, even before the building was completed.

In addition to all the building plans, such as hiring experts and purchasing materials, the committee decided to intentionally seek volunteers in the community to help with construction. By making friends in the village, the church could get a head start on creating interest. Later, when the church holds meetings, there is a natural opening to invite neighbors to come to church.

Before even starting the construction work, the entire church board met with a consultant to learn about basic project management and accountability. They set up a team for additional project-related training, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation. A contractor was hired to manage the construction, and the work started with church members volunteering their time. The first steps involved gathering and delivery of river sand, pit sand, quarry stone, and water to the church site for the foundation. Next, they ordered cement, plaster, windows, doors, and roofing materials.

As predicted, the building project sparked a great deal of interest in the community. People wanted to know what was going on, and what was being built. Since the church had prepared in advance, the volunteers were ready to stop and answer questions. The workers’ friendly and casual engagement with people passing by worked even better than they had expected. Dozens of community members decided to join the project and help with building.

One neighbor who lives close to the church site is Johannes. For years he had watched from his house as people gathered each Saturday under a tree. Sometimes church members would come to his home and offer Bible studies. But, Johannes always said he was too busy.

Johannes was curious when he saw the piles of construction supplies and people starting to build. He watched from afar as the church started to take shape. One day, on his way home, Johannes stopped to watch the workers on the roof. To his surprise, the workers called out a greeting and started up a conversation. He learned that all the workers were volunteers, and they invited Johannes to join them and bring a tool if he had one. Since it looked like such a friendly group, Johannes gladly accepted.

The next day, Johannes brought a trowel and showed up at the start time to volunteer. Before beginning their work, the team gathered to start with 30 minutes of Bible study. Johannes wasn’t expecting that, but he enjoyed the experience. Each day he returned to help, he realized he didn’t want to miss the Bible studies. He said, “Every day of the Bible studies before work opened up my deeper understanding about the true word of God.” He also wanted to learn more. So, the team invited Johannes to Sabbath School. Johannes says this building project has been such a blessing and he is so happy to be learning more about God and the Bible.

Johannes is just one of the community members impacted by this construction project. Let’s pray for the community around the Stone Mountain Church, and the church members who are making friends for Christ.

“Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:20-22


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