In 2010, GAP’s cofounders, Angie and Lynn Wagoner had a vision of securing property where God’s Appalachian Partnership could build a permanent ministry home and discontinue having to rent ministry space. The following year, 2011, this vision became a reality when God miraculously provided the land with the generous help of a partner church. Years later in 2018, architectural drawings were created for a distribution/office complex that would allow for ministry growth and expansion. However, it was not God’s time to build. At the beginning of this year, we decided to make some changes to the original architectural drawings and to go ahead and submit them to the state for approval. On March 19, 2024, I received a call from a group from Georgia called Constructors for Christ. Their summer construction project had just fallen through and they were quickly trying to find another building project for this summer. In just a matter of 3 weeks, God had sent back our building permit from the state, and we had committed to start the new building project and host Constructors for Christ for five weeks in June and July. It was God’s time for us to build!
God’s timing is always perfect! At first, I must admit that I was overwhelmed with the thought of a building project plus GAP’s 25th Anniversary Celebration happening all at the same time. No, it is not something I would have ever planned but as I am reminded time and time again, God’s Appalachian Partnership is the Lord’s and I and the other staff are just earthen vessels that are privileged to be used of Him for His glory here.
Prior to the first week of Constructors for Christ, there was a lot of work that needed to be done in preparation. Mainly, we needed to have the footers and foundation completed prior to their arrival. GAP is blessed by a godly man who is a retired local contractor who volunteered to oversee this entire project. His knowledge and expertise are invaluable to us, and we are so grateful for the time and energy that he has given and continues to give to this project. By May 13th the foundation was completed, and we were ready for Constructors for Christ.
The first group of Constructors for Christ arrived on June 16th with servants’ hearts ready to work. Monday through Thursday the groups started at 6:00 am, took a breakfast and lunch break, and did not stop for supper until 6:00 pm and would work half a day on Friday. At the end of week 1, most of all the framing was completed. The group during week 2 arrived and quickly finished the framing and in a day and half set all the trusses. They also began enclosing the building in.
Week 3 group continued to enclose the building, put roofing paper on the roof, and wrap the building. The group on week 4 started pulling electrical wires, putting metal on the sides, and installing vents and soffit. Week 5 was doing insulation, hanging drywall, and continuing to hang metal on the outside of the building.
It is amazing what God accomplished through these men and women in just five weeks! Not only did they labor with such craftmanship at the building site, but many came and served alongside us at the distribution center. Words cannot express the amount of gratitude we have for Constructors for Christ and their hearts for the Lord! Thank you for standing in the GAP.
The Lord continues to work on that which He began. All the data wires have been pulled and insulation hung. Sheetrock has not only been hung but is being finished as I am typing these words. The concrete pads in the back and front are completed and stonework on the front of the building is beautiful. Exterior lights and guttering are complete. The last things we are waiting for on the exterior of the building are the installation of the wood columns on the front, some painting to be done on the front, and the garage door on the back to be installed. I am asked a lot when the building will be completed. I honestly have no idea because if you asked me 5 months ago when we would be starting on the building, I would have said, “Hopefully next year.” I am trusting God for His provision and watching Him work in a way that exceeds me. It’s exciting, stretching, even at times uncomfortable. But this I do know; God’s timing is always perfect and His provision is always sufficient. “Praise be to the Lord God, who alone does marvelous deeds” Psalm 70:4.