A crew of more than 50 people showed up on a Sunday at the Bellevue (Wash.) Church for a special "tape ministry."
With tape and ladders, they taped off segments of the church building for a huge painting project. Bellevue Church, built in 1966 and expanded in 1979, has 10 major improvements slated for the future.
"Many of the projects are long overdue," says Peter Rampton, church member and head of the Capital Improvement Project's funding committee.
"God has already blessed us in a major way by having SAGE members step up and offer to do the painting," says George Nordby, committee member. "We had a bid for $18,000 to do the entire job, but thanks to SAGE members, we saved about $14,000. We only had to pay for the paint and materials."
SAGE members, who are mostly retired, do mission trips all over the world, building and painting schools, churches and other structures. This mission trip happened to be close to home.
This volunteer paint job was coordinated by Bob Grady, a longtime Bellevue Church member and SAGE leader, and Mike Altman, a retired paint contractor from the Portland, Ore., area.
The painting took two days. The church board and members also approved funding for interior upgrades including paint, new carpet, upholstering the pews, some window replacement, new bathrooms, lighting and sound improvements in the sanctuary, and expansion of the platform.
Bellevue Church partners with SAGE volunteers to upgrade the church facility with a new coat of paint. (Maylan Schurch)
Bellevue Church members and SAGE volunteers work together in a "tape ministry" to upgrade the church facilities. (Maylan Schurch)
