Day-In-The-Life of a Carpenter
The Piedmont Carpenters for Christ (PCFC) is a men’s ministry based out of Piedmont, Alabama. They have built churches in AL, TN, GA, MS, SC, and VA over the past 18 years. We started with a group of about 35 men in 2002 in Mt. Rest, SC and presently average 80 men on our projects from 6+ states and 20+ churches. Each man pays $135 and gives up a week’s vacation to attend the trip. The $135 donation goes to provide meals for the week and update construction tools and kitchen equipment as needed. The PCFC group grows from year to year as they finish construction projects and pick up men from previous trips. These men are made up of different denominational backgrounds. The men begin coming the next year with a heart for the men’s ministry.
Piedmont Carpenters for Christ has a 2-fold purpose, first is to help build a church in a community to reach the lost for Christ. The local church provides the materials and PCFC provides labor to help reduce cost. Second, is to help strengthen men in their spiritual walk with Christ by spending a week together working and worshipping together with other Christian men.
PCFC has many areas of leadership responsibility including construction, electrical and plumbing crews, cooks, and of course spiritual. The organization’s project coordinator, Michael Maddox, leads the group’s efforts by staying in communication with potential projects and making sure all areas of responsibilities are covered before and during the trip. The men’s occupations are diverse, most of which are not construction in nature.
In a project a few years back, the PCFC’s project was in the community of Stuart, VA. We erected a 5,000 square foot multipurpose building for Middle Cross Missionary Baptist Church. Approximately 60 church members met in a local dentist office basement for about 3 years. Members of the church were excited about the opportunities for ministry they had by moving into their new building. Five years later, we were afforded the opportunity to go back and help erect their new worship center, an 8,000 square foot gorgeous building constructed and adjacent to the front of their existing church. The congregation had grown to approx. 175 member and were completely out of space in their current space. What a testimony to what the Lord is doing in that community!
Once the group arrives on Friday mornings, the construction site is just a vacant slab of concrete waiting for the men to begin. The Carpenters will have the building completely dried in by the week’s end. This includes a completed roof system, outside walls, rough plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, insulation and possible drywall.
During the mission trip week, if you drive by the construction site, you will notice “Carpenters for Christ” trailers parallel with the road. The trailers house a complete kitchen setup to feed approximately 80-100 men three meals each day by a staff of 10. The local ladies of the church and community provide the men with desserts and wash their clothes daily. The men are lodge in nearby facilities provided by the church or community. Michael Maddox said “these men are so thankful to everyone for all they do for us during the course of this week. It is awesome the way the community reaches out to help churches and us by providing essentials such as showers and lodging. Locals welcome us with words of encouragement and personally praying with us in local establishments.”
At sunrise, the men are circled up for prayer and instruction to start the day. Jason Williams, construction leader stated, “This is the way we start each morning, we pray first and foremost to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for His safety throughout the day and then I direct the men on what we need to accomplish.” The men work for several hours and then stop for breakfast. The men again circle up for prayer and then eat. At each mealtime the men have a time for prayer request and then a devotion given by one of the men in the group. “This is a special time when the men can open their hearts to each other and learn more about the Word of God” says Mark Addison, Spiritual Leader. “No matter how long the devotion time last, the construction work still gets done because we are working in God’s time.” The men work all day with lunch around 1:00 and dinner at 7:00. Again the men circle up for prayer, eat and then spend time in God’s Word. Larry Cothran, member of the Piedmont Carpenters for Christ on his 16th trip said “We come here to build a church for a congregation that needs us, but we really come here to refresh our spirit.”
When the pastor of Middle Cross Missionary Baptist Church, Michael Morrison was asked about what has stood out about the Carpenters for Christ he said, “The way they work together, no one standing around and the comradery and fellowship of working with other Christian men. This group allows you the opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, all men equal, working together for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Pastor Morrison has been the pastor for over 6 years and is originally from this local area. He said “The main purpose of building in this community is reaching people for Christ, and if we have any other goal, we have failed at being a New Testament church.”