Volunteers lay foundation for church, ‘spiritual strength’

As the carpenter they worship taught, the congregation of the Homewood Christian and Community Church, 1795 Idaho Road, is laying down a firm foundation before it does its building.

Nearly a year after the old church building was torn down because of a severe case of black mold, a contractor who is a member the church has dug the footings and is in the midst of pouring concrete for the foundation.

The congregation is ready, Kurt Garrison, the contractor, said.

“We hope to have the building framed and enclosed before the fall,” Garrison said. “We’ll have plenty of volunteers helping.”

The old church building, which was rolled onto the site by teams of horses decades ago, was demolished last year because of a severe case of black mold, Don Higdon, a member of the church trustees, said.

“It was something we had to do,” he said.

The trustees were afraid the mold would cause health problems for older and younger congregation members and the congregation reluctantly decided to tear down the building, he said.

When the congregation decided to demolish the church, its action drew national publicity, carried by the Associated Press and by news outlets and Web sites across the country.

“Some members of the congregation heard from relatives in Arizona and Ohio,” Susan Snodgrass, a member of the congregation, said. “Someone even heard from New York.”

The publicity also garnered the congregation some donations from unexpected sources, Higdon said.

Since the old church was demolished, the congregation has packed into the church’s annex building, he said.

Sunday services have averaged 40 to 50 worshipers, he said.

“It’s been elbow to elbow,” Higdon said. “But everyone’s been pretty positive about it.”

However, the process in rebuilding has taken longer than expected, Garrison said.

According to the county’s zoning regulations, the lot was too small for the new church, he said.

A neighbor had to agree to transfer a four-foot strip along the side of the site before the new church could be built, he said.

And although the congregation has contributed money for a new building, there isn’t enough yet. The construction, even with volunteer help, may be a case of pay-as-you-go, Higdon said.

Despite the difficulties, the congregation has drawn closer together, Snodgrass said.

“I know they’ve been a source of spiritual strength for Henry [her husband] and me,” she said.