More than 120 volunteers with the Mobile Baptist Builders work on a new sanctuary for Bean’s Corner Baptist Church in Jay on Monday in over 90-degree heat. The walls went up Saturday and roof trusses Monday. “We plan to finish the roof, shingle, put in doors and windows by the end of the week,” said Burben Sullins Jr., coordinator of the Alabama mission. Sullins started Mobile Baptist Builders 36 years ago with nine men and five women. It has grown to over 400 strong, who have built 70 churches throughout the U.S., he said. Each volunteer pays for their transportation and leaves their regular job for a week. Most are from churches built by the mission. “We’ve become a family and this is a family reunion,” said Darlene Maeri of Clinton, New York.

Roof trusses go up on the new sanctuary at Bean’s Corner Baptist Church in Jay on Monday. Mobile Baptist Builders, an Alabama-based church mission, brought over 120 volunteers from 13 states. The group started work on the church Saturday and will be here for the week. The roof and shingles, windows and doors will be put in, said Burben Sullins, coordinator of the mission.

Many hands make light work despite temperatures in the mid-90s on Monday as the Mobile Baptist Builders put up roof trusses on a new sanctuary for Bean’s Corner Baptist Church in Jay. “There are about eight contractors and a couple master electricians among the 120-plus volunteers including the oldest, who is 86, and several children,” said Burben Sullins, coordinator of the builders. “The rest are ‘go-fers’ learning and doing whatever they can to help,” he said.  Each volunteer pays for their own transportation and leaves their regular job for a week to help build a church. 

Many hands make light work despite temperatures in the mid-90s on Monday as the Mobile Baptist Builders put up roof trusses on a new sanctuary for Bean’s Corner Baptist Church in Jay. “There are about eight contractors and a couple master electricians among the 120-plus volunteers including the oldest, who is 86, and several children,” said Burben Sullins, coordinator of the builders.  “The rest are ‘go-fers’ learning and doing whatever they can to help,” he said.  Each volunteer pays for their own transportation and leaves their regular job for a week to come help build a church. 

Over 120 volunteers with Mobile Baptist Builders install roof trusses on Monday in weather over 90 degrees. “This large group will be followed by a smaller group who will put up sheetrock inside,” said Burben Sullins, coordinator of the group. “They come with a mission to help build a church but also bond and become a family,” he said.