Friday, February 20th, 2015
Church ministry to mark anniversary
St. John Builders to break ground in Celina for 12th home
By Jared Mauch
CELINA - A local church's ministry will celebrate its 25th anniversary by breaking ground on its 12th home for those in need.
Members of St. John Builders, a Celina-based home building and maintenance ministry of St. John Lutheran Church (the Purple Door Church), hope to begin construction of the new home in April. A small lot next to Grace Missionary Church, Celina, has been selected as the site.
A family has not yet been selected for the new home. Applications from interested families are due by March 1. Applicants are chosen on need, ability to pay housing and monthly expenses and willingness to participate.
A family should be selected by early April, project coordinator Robert Chaney said.
St. John Builders was founded in 1990 by former church pastor, the Rev. Doug Meyer, and church member Paul Stein. The idea to start a home-building ministry arose after members witnessed the positive impact of other ministries, Chaney said.
The group has built small, affordable homes for qualified families in Celina, Neptune, Cross, S.C., Ocean Springs, Miss., and Evansville, Ind. Volunteers also over the years have built a number of wheelchair ramps and handicapped-accessible modifications for homeowners.
About 100 people work on a house during construction with a regular crew of about 15-20 working daily, Chaney said.
The ministry does not start a home project until a family has been selected and $50,000 for building materials is raised. The needed funding for this year's project has been collected, Chaney said. Costs are kept down by volunteer labor and donations. Construction is a six-month process.
The group's most recent project was a home completed last fall on Godfrey Avenue in Celina.
"We do not always build a house per year," he said. "It depends on the funding that we have."
Chaney added the layouts, though small, can vary depending on needs of families.
"We have multiple layouts. If they need more bedroom space and less of a living room space, we can do that," he said.
Group members want to make sure each family is comfortable but space is limited due to the size of the lots.
To apply or for more information, stop by the church, 1100 N. Main St., Celina, or go to
www.purpledoorchurch.org/stjohnbuilders.php.
