July 14, 2006

Ground breaking scheduled for July 30

Quiet land soon to buzz with activity at Baker Chapel site

By Daniel R. Gangler

DEGONIA SPRINGS, Ind. – Only a sign now marks the site of the former building of Baker Chapel, a Warrick County United Methodist church whose building was completely destroyed during a deadly Nov. 6 tornado. The quiet plot of land will take on life again on Sunday, July 30 as the congregation breaks ground for a new building.

The 167-member Baker Chapel is located on the east edge of DeGonia Springs, a rural town of a few hundred residents, 20 miles northeast of Evansville.

According to the Rev. Randy Anderson, pastor of Centenary UMC in Evansville and Evansville District Volunteer in Mission Coordinator, a 9:30 a.m. worship service will begin at the DeGonia Springs Junior High School, where the congregation is temporarily meeting, and will proceed to the site of its property on Ind. Highway 62.

The Chapel's building committee, chaired by Steve Barnett, M.D., and the congregation have approved final plans for a $900,000 building project, according to the Rev. Glenn Howell, superintendent of the Evansville District. The actual cost of the project could be 30 percent less, depending upon volunteer labor to build the new structure.

Concerning pastoral leadership of Baker Chapel, Howell said, "After leading Baker through the disaster and temporary relocation of the church, the Rev. Jerusha Franz is now leaving as the pastor. Her hope is that a new pastor will lead them through the next phase of their history together." 

Mike Shelton, an active lay speaker of Trinity UMC in Rockport, Ind. has been named by Howell as interim pastor.

Contributing to the build, 30 firefighters and skilled laborer from New York City will be on the Baker Chapel site Sept. 7-10 as part of their fifth annual 9/11 observance. Anderson hopes that the walls of the building will be raised into place during their visit. The New York volunteers are being sponsored by the New York Says Thank You Foundation. The New York Mets already have donated $2,500 towards to Baker Chapel build.

Bishop Mike Coyner plans to participate in an opening breakfast for the build on Sept. 8 at 8 a.m. A memorial service remembering the victims of the Nov. 6 Evansville tornado and the victims of the World Trade Center and Pentagon will be held on Sept. 10.

Excavation, foundation and footer work has already been donated. Anderson hopes the plumbing and slab work will be in place by the time the New York volunteers arrive.

Representatives of the Evansville District, South Indiana Conference and the Indiana Area met last week to begin plans for volunteer in mission teams to participate in the project and hope to have those plans in place by the end of July.

As soon as volunteer work plans have been finalized, volunteer information and registration forms will be placed on the Indiana Area UMC Web site at www.inareaumc.org. Scheduling for volunteers to assist in building and food preparation will be handled by Elsie Miller in the South Indiana Conference Center.

Contributions for the Baker Chapel build are being accepted by the South Indiana Conference Treasurer Jennifer Gallagher and may be sent, as an Annual Conference Advanced Special Payable to South Indiana Conference with Baker Chapel memo, to Jennifer Gallagher, South Indiana Conference, P.O. Box 2267, Bloomington, IN 47402-2267.

Seashore District Volunteer Center goal reached

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Area United Methodist Foundation received enough funds in the mail today, Friday, July 14, for the Seashore District Volunteer Center build to surpass the $150,000 goal needed to finance the project.

According to the Rev. Jim Gentry, executive director of the foundation, any additional funds received in the name of the Seashore District Volunteer Center will be sent to the Heritage United Methodist Church in D'Iberville, Miss., where the center is located, for maintenance of the new facility.

Bishop Mike Coyner and Gentry celebrate the completion of this goal and again express their gratitude to all the individuals and churches that have invested time and money into this important mission project.

The Seashore District Volunteer Center will continue to house volunteers coming to D'Iberville during the next decade to assist survivors of Hurricane Katrina recover their homes. Congregation or individuals wishing to volunteer for hurricane recovery work in D'Iberville Miss., can make arrangements for such mission service by contacting the Heritage United Methodist Church at heritageumc@bellsouth.net or by calling 228-392-4288.

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