Hundreds of missionaries build church from ground up in Savannah

SAVANNAH, Tenn. —  For more than 30 years, a group of missionaries have traveled across the country building churches. This week they are in West Tennessee working with a local congregation to expand their ministry.

“They come and they work in the heat of the sun, just as a labor of love for the kingdom,” volunteer pastor Ed Falgout said.

Every year during the third week of June, the Baptist Church Builders of Texas build churches across the county for free. This year, more than 300 volunteers are building a new church for Riverview Baptist in Savannah.

“They could have gone anywhere,” Riverview Baptist Church pastor Allen Guyer said. “There were several places they could have gone, but they chose to pick Savannah, Tennessee, and to help Riverview Baptist Church, and to that I say ‘glory to the Lord.'”

These volunteers don’t only come from Texas but from all over the country and even Guatemala, spending their own time and money to be a part of the build.

“One way that you can really thank Him in a material way of putting something together and saying ‘thank you, God. I want to give back the opportunity that you’ve given me,'” project manager Russell Gill said.

“[They are] giving up vacations and all to come here to help us build a church, and the least I can do is help,” Riverview member Jeanie Majors said. “I want to be a part of it. It’s exciting, and I just want to be a part of it.”

The church roof is being assembled on the ground and will be lifted onto the frame of the building Thursday morning. For pastor Falgout, who had his church in Illinois built by the group, spending five days to help another church is worth the time and effort.

“We can not, not go,” Falgout said. “They’ve invested in us, and it’s our joy and obligation to keep on investing in others.”

Riverview’s current building only seats 100 people, and the new building will hold 300. The Baptist Builders of Texas have been building churches since 1978.