Tireless retirees help burned-out church rise from ashes

ATHENS—One year after Lake Athens Baptist Church lost its building to arson—and the same week two young men received life sentences for burning a string of East Texas churches—more than 30 Texas Baptist Men Retiree Builders started work rebuilding the church’s facility.

Bill Campbell, a member of Lake Athens Baptist Church and a volunteer with Texas Baptist Men Retiree builders for 20 years, operates a saw on the construction site at his home church. (PHOTO/Ken Camp)

Lake Athens Baptist Church, near Athens, was one of 10 churches in three counties burned during a five-week period in early 2010. Jason Robert Borque, 22, and Daniel George McAllister, 20, confessed to five fires in the Tyler area and were considered suspects in the remaining arsons—including the burning of Lake Athens Baptist Church.

“I’ll never forget that night,” Pastor John Green said. “There were eight fire departments working on it. One truck had a spotlight on the church, shining on the steeple. Sometimes, it was almost blocked out by the smoke, but it always came back into sight. And I knew our church would come back.”

While the memory of the fire remains, members of the church likewise never will forget the day one year later when a team of volunteers in 32 RVs rolled into the church’s parking lot to help rebuild the facility.

With a nailgun in hand, Marshall Rathbun, a volunteer from First Baptist Church in Center, works on the interior walls of Lake Athens Baptist Church. (PHOTO/Ken Camp)

“We had insurance, but thanks to these folks, we’re able to build a 16,000-square-foot building for the cost of a 10,500-square-foot building,” said R.B. Richardson, a charter member of Lake Athens Baptist Church.

With the foundation, steel frame, exterior walls and roof already in place, the TBM Retiree Builders focused on the building’s interior.

While the men worked on the construction project, their wives held a morning Bible study open to anyone in the community, and each afternoon, they worked on a craft project that will benefit children in remote mountain villages in Mexico.

“These volunteers are a breath of fresh air,” Green said. “Without their help, we would have had to go into debt to build that kind of facility. As it is, our new sanctuary will seat 100 more than before.”

Steve Jackson (standing) from Calvary Baptist Church in Midlothian and Charles Tompkins (kneeling) from First Baptist Church in Hallettsville work on framing out a room inside the new facility of Lake Athens Baptist Church. (PHOTO/Ken Camp)

Members of Lake Athens Baptist Church already knew firsthand about the TBM Retiree Builders’ capabilities. The group had worked on the church’s previous facility, and one of its members, Bill Campbell, has served with the builders about 20 years.

After the Retiree Builders complete two weeks in Athens, a volunteer building team from Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler will complete any necessary interior finishing work.

Texas Baptist Men launched the Retiree Builders program in mid-1979. In addition to the church builders, other TBM construction groups specialize in cabinet building or projects at Baptist encampments. One Spanish-speaking team works with Hispanic churches, and TBM plans to launch a crew specializing in construction for cowboy churches.

Volunteers travel at their own expense and are housed in their own recreational vehicles. Retiree Builders complete 10 to 12 projects a year.

Average age of the volunteers on the Athens project is about 73—the youngest is about 60, and the oldest is 90, said Ron Beard, state project coordinator for the Retiree Builders.

Bill Pigott, state director of TBM Retiree Builders, notes economic downturns have taken a toll on the missions action program. About 200 couples are considered active with the group, and another 100 serve on occasional projects—down considerably from a high of about 400 couples 20 years ago.

“There’s no question we’re getting hit by the economy and delayed retirement,” Pigott said. “It also seems like there’s a different mindset among some people who reach retirement age now. So many feel like they’ve already done their part.”

Charles Tompkins from First Baptist Church in Hallettsville works on framing out a room inside the new facility of Lake Athens Baptist Church. (PHOTO/Ken Camp)

If fuel costs continue to escalate, that could force some retirees on fixed incomes to limit their travel, as well, he added.

“Some of these folks spend everything they make from their Social Security check doing what we do,” Pigott said.

Even so, the group remains committed to its mission. After two weeks in Athens, some of the volunteers will begin work on a project at Mount Lebanon Retreat Center near Dallas, and others will travel to Camp Zephyr in South Texas.

Steve Jackson from Calvary Baptist Church in Midlothian drives nails on a TBM Retiree Builders project at Lake Athens Baptist Church. (PHOTO/Ken Camp)

“Our motive always is to share Christ with people. If all we have done is build, we’ve fallen short. We are called to be a witness,” Pigott said.

The witness of the volunteer builders—serving joyfully at personal sacrifice—left its mark on Lake Athens Baptist Church, as did the challenge of the last year, the church’s pastor noted.

“We are a stronger church because of it,” Green said. “Our people have responded in a very positive manner. And people in the community have taken notice of what’s going on here, asking us, ‘How is your church coming along?’

“I believe that up from the ashes, God is going to raise a mighty force of giving people, loving people to be his witnesses.”

Go here for more information on Texas Baptist Men Retiree Builders, or call Bill Pigott at (214) 707-4379.