North Bay Baptist in the news paper

Aransas Pass Progress  March 15,2006.......

      raveling men on a mission 

The Texas Baptist Men, a volunteer retiree Builders ministry under auspices of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, has converged on the Church-under-construction with hopes of completion in only two weeks.

“ We do (construct) about two churches a month for 11 months out of the year,” said Wayne Simpkins, Lead carpenter for the Ingleside mission and 16-year  Volunteer for the Baptist builders. “The metal building shell was up when we got here, so we’re just doing the inside.”

Over 30 men and women from across Texas, and one from as far as Washington, began arriving in Ingleside on Saturday in travel trailers to set up a temporary camp for the two week project.

“You learn quickly when you do this all the time” Simpkins said of his carpentry skills. He never thought he’d spend his retirement years building church after church – about 170 at last count - over the last 16 years.

The retired industrial arts teacher orchestrates the team of men composed of plumbers, electricians and carpenters to finish out each project; and says that the group of mostly-retiree volunteers has become a close –knit family.

As varied are their backgrounds so do their reason for choosing to travel from city to city, lending a hand, all at their own expense.

“We just do this to serve the Lord,” said Charlie Johnson, 84, the oldest crew member from La Grange. “It’s our way of doing and it helps these small, growing churches to save a lot of money with volunteer labor.”

Johnson has served with the Texas Baptist Men since 1994 and admits that at his age, the physical labor and fellowship is what keeps him going strong.

“It’s very rewarding,” Simpkins said. “I tell the guys all the time… how many can say when they look back at what they left in the world… we leave a legacy behind because a church can touch so many lives.”

While the men begin their day at 7:30a.m., the wives busily prepare meals and mostly visit, until a lunch break – and nap time for the majority. Work continues until 4:30 p.m. followed by an evening of fellowship.

The hard work and strictly volunteer labor, compensated only by meals from the host church families, is what Daughtry calls a “blessing.”

“We call this the handiwork of God,” the pastor said. “We didn’t even know they were coming until a month ago, because usually you have to be on the waiting list before they will travel to your project.” A cancellation by an East Texas church near Center, Texas allowed the mission to migrate to the Coastal Bend.

“I’ve never had and opportunity to work with the (Texas Baptist) men… they’re our church’s life savers.”

On Sunday the Texas Baptist Men and their wives will lead worship services, with the “Grandma’s on wheels” serving as the choir in the new North Bay Baptist Fellowship church at 3530 N. Main St. (FM 1069).

The crew will then pack up with plans to travel to another small town, while others take a break from serving as volunteers to visit their families back home.

“We’re only home long enough to pay the bills, mow the lawn and see the doctor before we’re off again,” Simpkins said “but I’ll continue to tell the churches, you get a building… we get the blessing,”

Retired men work for God

Volunteer Baptist builders help put up Ingleside church

By Adriana Garza Caller-Times

March 18, 2006

INGLESIDE - Emerging from the darkness of the empty Ingleside North Bay Baptist Fellowship Church are dozens of men carrying lumber and tools.

They work to build a house of worship. They work without pay. They work to be a living example of God's word.

For the members of Texas Baptist Men Volunteer Retiree Builders Ministry, building the inside of the small Ingleside church is the Lord's work.

"We wouldn't work this hard for money," said Wayne Simpkins, 71, of Bryan.

The retired teacher is one of about 30 volunteers from across Texas who travel the state 11 months out of the year helping communities build churches.

Churches apply for the group's help and once an application is approved, volunteers begin filtering in, armed with tools, energy and a love of God.

They stay at each site for two weeks and complete as much work as they can. After two weeks, the volunteers take two weeks to rest up before moving on to their next mission.

Jim Woodings is a retired refinery worker from Beaumont. At 75, he represents the average age of the volunteers working at the North Bay Fellowship Church.

"You can't imagine the joy of just being here," Woodings said. "I started back in 1991 and I felt that this was something the Lord wanted me to do."

Most of the men travel to the work site in campers with their wives.

The wives visit local nursing homes, fix snacks and sing at devotion services.

Church Pastor Odell Daughtry said the helping hands of the Texas Baptist Men are Heaven-sent.

"They are truly a gift from God," Daughtry said.

Daughtry said his church is 100 members strong and the congregation has quickly outgrown its old building, which only accommodates about 75 people.

The new building is expected to be able to hold more than 300 members.

At 56, Leon Kolodziejis one of the youngest volunteers on the project.

Unlike the volunteers from the Texas Baptist Men, Kolodziej isn't retired.

A member of the North Bay Fellowship, Kolodziej has volunteered his weekends and days off to work on the church. Even with the volunteer efforts of local churchgoers, the church wouldn't be coming along as quickly without a little boost from the Texas Baptist Men.

"It would have taken us at least four months to do the work these men are doing in two weeks," he said.

Daughtry said he hopes the work is completed in time for Easter and because of what he calls motivation from the Holy Spirit, his dream is closer to becoming a reality.

"It's going to be Hallelujah time," he said.