RENOVATING CHURCH A FAMILY AFFAIR

Renovating their new church home on Main Street is a family affair for members of Community Bible Church.

Almost everyone is pitching in to clean, garden, put up drywall and install rough wiring.  Husbands and wives and sons and daughters all have a role.

Community Bible Church bought the building at 1600 Main Street at the end of March and secured a city permit to renovate the premises on July 23.  Immediately, crews of volunteers moved in to put up steel studs to mark out the planned sanctuary, kitchen, prayer room and classrooms.

The aim remains to complete the renovations and dedicate the renovated church by late September or early October.  The church now meets at A. Y. Jackson High School in Kanata.  People interested in learning about the congregation can check the church’s web site at www.cbcstittsville.com.

The crews of volunteers and sub-contractors are being directed by a husband-and-wife team from the congregation, Gordon and Kay Stewart.  Gordon is a retired builder with many years of experience supervising building projects.

Jim Lewandowsky and his wife Caroline are typical of the volunteers – Jim helping with the rough wiring and Caroline spending hours in the church garden on summer evenings and weekends.

“I know it’s work,” said Jim of the rough wiring he is doing, “but it doesn’t feel like work.  Everyone is so easy-going and relaxed.”

“I love the garden,” said Caroline.  “I have connected with a lot of passers-by – people asking questions and making nice comments.”

It’s the camaraderie that volunteers enjoy most.

“I want to spend time with Jim,” said Caroline.

And Mark Egilo, who brought along his son Jonathan on a recent Saturday, said he has got to know other church members much better by working with them.

“It’s a great way to get to know people in the church,” he said.  “It’s relationship-building.”  For Mark, it is also satisfying to see the tangible results of his work – like Jim he was doing rough wiring.  “You are leaving a legacy,” he said.  “You can see the benefits of your work.”

Jonathan Egilo is enjoying the work, too.  His father bought him a new pair of work boots and he is learning as he is working.  “It’s good to help in the community,” Jonathan said.  “I kind of like construction work.”

Derek & Jay sand the exterior

On a recent Saturday, six volunteers turned out to do electrical work, another six for drywalling, two for gardening, and one for cleaning washrooms.  Five baked muffins to feed the workers.  Derek Peasley and his son Jason were busy sanding the exterior siding in preparation for painting.

“It has been a wonderful experience to watch the volunteers arriving for each work session, and always just the right number that is needed,” said Kay Stewart.  “It is exciting to see a former hardware store being transformed into a house of worship.”