FAST FACTS:
(West Memphis, AR 7/23/09) Normally it takes months to build a church, but in West Memphis, Arkansas one is going up in just days.
Hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses are building a new Kingdom Hall on College Road, just across from the West Memphis airport.
Lots of hammers and saws are in motion on the job site in West Memphis.
As many as 300 people are working here at a time to get a church built in a week.
Some members of the crew are professional builders, but most are still learning as they go.
"Right now we are working on scaffoldling and masonry, trying to get the bricks on the building," said Ashlee Davis.
This is the 10th church Ashlee Davis has helped build over the last five years.
She traveled from Bald Knob, Arkansas to take part in this project and is helping with the drywall installation.
Davis says she's always surprised how quickly the walls go up, but says it's all about teamwork.
"I knew nothing about construction when I started this, nothing at all, but I love it now," said Davis.
Eight years ago Kurt Millbrandt got help from Jehovah's Witnesses in the West Memphis area to build his church in Corning, Arkansas.
He doesn't know a person who will attend this church, but is glad to return the favor .
"For the local congregation to build this it would take them too long and we can come come in a short time and assist them," said Millbrandt.
And he says the sooner they get this building finished the sooner this church can get back to its ministry and helping people in the community.
"This group from eastern Arkansas has never missed a deadline. Crews will work through the night Friday and Saturday to finish the building. For news updates from the field follow me at http://www.twitter.com/melissamoon3.
- Volunteers are building a church in West Memphis, AR in a week
- It's a project of the Jehovah's Witnesses
- The crew says it takes lots of patience and teamwork to get it done so fast
(West Memphis, AR 7/23/09) Normally it takes months to build a church, but in West Memphis, Arkansas one is going up in just days.
Hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses are building a new Kingdom Hall on College Road, just across from the West Memphis airport.
Lots of hammers and saws are in motion on the job site in West Memphis.
As many as 300 people are working here at a time to get a church built in a week.
Some members of the crew are professional builders, but most are still learning as they go.
"Right now we are working on scaffoldling and masonry, trying to get the bricks on the building," said Ashlee Davis.
This is the 10th church Ashlee Davis has helped build over the last five years.
She traveled from Bald Knob, Arkansas to take part in this project and is helping with the drywall installation.
Davis says she's always surprised how quickly the walls go up, but says it's all about teamwork.
"I knew nothing about construction when I started this, nothing at all, but I love it now," said Davis.
Eight years ago Kurt Millbrandt got help from Jehovah's Witnesses in the West Memphis area to build his church in Corning, Arkansas.
He doesn't know a person who will attend this church, but is glad to return the favor .
"For the local congregation to build this it would take them too long and we can come come in a short time and assist them," said Millbrandt.
And he says the sooner they get this building finished the sooner this church can get back to its ministry and helping people in the community.
"This group from eastern Arkansas has never missed a deadline. Crews will work through the night Friday and Saturday to finish the building. For news updates from the field follow me at http://www.twitter.com/melissamoon3.
