Raising Roofs

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LeRoy Rankin concentrates on cutting plywood used in building the fine arts storage facility. Progress photo by Marivel Resendiz

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August 3, 2012

Raising Roofs

Volunteer builders lend hand to Jacksonville College

Marivel Resendiz Jacksonville Daily Progress The Jacksonville Daily Progress Fri Aug 03, 2012, 10:50 AM CDT

JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville College campus has been conquered by 15 RVs on a mission — raising roofs for Jesus.

The Master's Builders, a traveling organization known for building mission homes and churches, volunteer their time and labor in exchange for one hot meal a day.

Members come from all over the United States including Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. When a job site is given to the builders, a mass message is sent out and anyone who can work meets at the location.

The Master's Builders are currently helping Jacksonville College build a 2,700-square foot new fine arts storage facility, and marks their 118 creation.

Eddie Sikes, field coordinator, said job completion can take anywhere from a week to two weeks.

“We started back then with five men and now we have an average of 22 men working on a job,” he said. “It has grown. People send in an application, we set up dates, I call all the builders and show up.”

The builders are far from the typical construction worker. The average builder is 77 years old and likely did not work as a carpenter.

“One man worked on telephones, another did insulation and another sold cars,” Sikes laughed. “I think I'm the only one who has been a carpenter.”

Max Adams, the oldest member of the organization, is completing his 105 job.

But the men are not on their own. Their spouses accompany them on the trips and visit with community and church members.

“We attend bible study every morning and do different things with the churches or schools,” Carol Sikes said.

Carol said the gratitude from the people they help is no comparison to the accomplishments they feel from helping out.

“Once we finish they'll say like, 'Oh you've been such a blessing,'” she said. “But I always say, 'you get the church and we get the blessing.'”

David Heflin, director of public relations for JC, said the college is saving thousands of dollars by using the organization.

“They get things done,” he said. “You can see the fellowship in their work and they pass the time joking around with each other.”

Aside from the storage facility for theater props, the builders have also helped the school by installing bathrooms in some of the new homes purchased for future student dormitories and installing a long food counter in the food service area.

“We want to be good stewards of our money and they are helping us in this area,” Heflin said.

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Raising Roofs

Volunteer builders lend hand to Jacksonville College

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