Nearly four decades after the idea was born, a family life center is being constructed at Watsontown United Methodist Church, thanks to $400,000 from its own coffers, a $1.6 million loan, and volunteer builders from across Pennsylvania.
The Rev. Doug Eberly, pastor of the church, estimated that by week's end, 50 different volunteers will have worked on the building, and that when they leave in three weeks, they will have collectively worked more than 3,000 hours.
When the 17,000-square-foot center is finished in December, it will house an auditorium/gymnasium, commercial kitchen, children's area and offices. Expansions are planned for the future.
Though all that stands now on the 40-acre lot is a steel and wooden skeleton reminding volunteers where walls and rooms are supposed to be, Eberly is focusing on the future.
"What they will do in a week is just phenomenal," he said.
The three-week volunteer effort was jumpstarted by Eberly's Sunday sermon titled, "If you believe, anything can happen!" during which he told the tale of David and Goliath.
The church's new building is coming to fruition nearly 38 years after it was first proposed by parishioners. Tom McClintock, the church's trustee chairman, said that the idea to build a new worship site came to a vote four times in the past three decades before it was passed.
"The congregation was rather hesitant," McClintock said. "They didn't think the time was right. But the existing building is getting old, and the congregation is aging with it. The worship area is on the second floor, and some of our members are having a difficult time climbing the steps."
Another consideration was that the church's existing building is not handicapped-accessible, though some of the parishioners have physical disabilities.
Bill Toner, who owns a contracting business and has volunteered to build homes since 1985, traveled from Harrisburg to supervise the volunteers.
Toner said that the toughest part of organizing the volunteer effort was not knowing what kind of people would show up to help.
"You could get nonexperienced people, or 20 experienced people," he said. "But in the end it doesn't matter how many people you get. Someone will always find a place to fit into."
Linda Smith of Watsontown did just that.
Smith, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Jersey Shore Middle School, recalled her own experience of being in junior high school when girls "weren't allowed to take shop."
She was struck with a slight feeling of terror and apprehension when she realized she would be operating a saw for the first time.
She said that the construction effort has given her courage.
"I've always in my life wanted to build something out of wood," Smith said. "They let me experience the great feeling of satisfaction by actually doing something."
And with tears forming in her eyes, Smith said, "This is my church that we're building. God calls us to say yes. All of these people, even though it's not their church, are also saying yes."
And while even Eberly admits the building isn't anything more than "functional" in appearance, it was apparent on-site that the center meant more to the congregation than just a building.
"How many of us actually have anything to do with the beginning of our churches?" Smith asked. "You're doing things that you'd probably never have to do again in your life, but it gives you courage."ù
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50 volunteers turn 38-year-old dream into reality
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