Franklin Baptist Association, Alabama- Week1: The first group of volunteers arrived from Alabama (Franklin Baptist Association) and the work they accomplished by 2 pm Monday (June 16) was outstanding! Hopefully, we can get some names to go woth these images but we wanted to get these to you so you can see the progress. We are so blessed to have everyone helping us.

The work throughout the week went great. The framing is up and ready for the next crew. Wow! What can we say? Check out Week 2 to continue watching the progress.

First Baptist Church, Winfield, Missouri & Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama - Week 2: Another great week went by with much being accomplished by groups from Missouri (First Baptist Church - Winfield) and Alabama (Dawson Memorial Baptist Church - Birmingham) as well as group from our very own Kenosha Wisconsin. The roofing is in place and the shingles are going up. Electrical boxes and some wiring is getting installed.

We would love to personally thank everyone for their hard work. It was warm, especially on the roof, and everyone helped by using the gifts God has given them. Again, we have been blessed by everyone's generosity. We are looking forward to utilizing the new addition in order to serve Him! Thank you everyone.

Valley Baptist Church - Week 3: Valley Baptist Church members are continuing the work to ready the building for week 4 when local churches from Neenah and Green Bay join us. Welcome Living Vine Community Church and Highland Crest Baptist Church.

We enjoyed the company of the Fugates, former members that moved out east, as they helped us ready the building for drywall. We were also fortunate to enjoy the company of fellow brothers and sisters from Graceway Fellowship in Green Bay. The exterior gypsom board went up, electrical work continued, bracing was installed, and Mike from Missouri continued to roof the existing building. Progress is not as apparent as framing or roofing but it is being made. Again, weather has been good.

Valley Baptist Church - Week 4: Another week has passed and we have Living Vine Community Church, Highland Crest Baptist Church, and some members from Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee.

The framing of the lowered ceilings on the first floor was accomplished and can be seen in the associated photo album. The electrical work is progressing nicely thanks to Rollie from Buss Electric. Trader Plumbing as been working diligently as has our HVAC guys from Christensen Heating and Air Conditioning. Advantage Fire Sprinkler just got started installing the sprinkler pipes and we hope to pressure test next week.

Starting Monday, July 14, Jacob's Well members from Eau Claire will join us and begin drywalling.

Valley Baptist Church - Week 5: Members from Jacob's Well joined us this week and they jumped right in by starting to drywall the basement rooms. While they cannot possibly finish the entire basement, they have made excellent progress and again we are so thankful.

The sound/fire insulation is going in, the HVAC guys are still working hard along with the sprinkler system, and some exterior work has started. We are preparing for windows and the new electrical service as well. There is still a lot of work to do that everyone is staying busy and working as part of a team. Thank you everyone!

July 14

First Baptist Church Pinson & Riverview Baptist Church - Week 6: We welcomed more brothers and sisters to Appleton this week. FBC Pinson from Pinson, Alabama Riverview Baptist Church from Franklin, Ohio - Thank you! This large crew has made great progress on the drywalling that was started last week. Drywall dust abounds throughout the new addition ( and old) but it is all being done to further glorify Him so the cleanup efforts are worth it.

The flooring selections, colors for the walls, ceilings & door frames are being finalized since we are getting closer to completion and will be there before you know it. Again, the weather has been most accommodating. Note the first windows went in and we hope to complete them soon!

Calvary Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, NC - Week 13: Members from Winston-Salem, NC's Calvary Baptist Church joined us this week. Their task, since they chose to accept it, was to demolish the existing restrooms off the current main lobby, brace and support the roof (since they took down the load bearing walls), wire and re-wire electrical, and create the steel roof for the canopy. Even some of the subfloor was replaced.

While the group seemed to take more pleasure in demolishing walls, some of the ladies enjoyed their time painting a preschool room and particpating in a craft project or two.

Notes: The Schindler elevator is being assembled and the Lyle Thiel Masonry brick masons are just about done. We even enjoyed the presence of Steve Buss from Buss Electric. Rollie has been working in Tomah but we hope he returns soon. Our good general Clyde Carpenter and his wife had left for Montana a couple of weeks ago to volunteer on a project there. We are thankful for everyone who has helped!

Valley Baptist Church - Weeks 14 - 15: Contractors have been in and out working as needed. Primarily, the elevator workers (all two of them) from Schindler have been hard at work assembling and installing the elevator and all of the equipment that makes it work. Thanks Erica and Ben! Once we get a final elevator inspection we can actually use it. For now, it is just another task that has been completed.

Tiling the bathrooms has been ongoing. Jerry Wallace, a volunteer from day 1 has spent countless hours helping us. Unfortunately, Jerry's daughter Tammie passed away suddenly and Jerry is having to deal with this tremendous loss. Please keep Jerry and his wife Rita in your prayers.

Clyde Carpenter has returned from his trip to Montana so we can no longer cite him as the source of our dilemnas. The HVAC is being completed, the plumbing is in and working, we hung our 2 main doors going into the existing building, and the front doors go in Oct. 1.

Pictures are few as a lot of what is getting accomplished does not have the visual impact you can see. However, we will post them anyway and we await another group of volunteers the third week of October.

Huffman Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL - Week 18: Volunteers arriving this past week from Huffman Baptist Church represent the last of the volunteers...at least the last of the organized mission trips...to Valley. The Good Lord has provided us with a lot of great help and continues to do so. The Huffman group installed the laminated tile in some of the rooms; especially the youth room. Then they assembled the youth counter area which they made ahead of time and brought with them! It looks great. All we have to do is face it with material of our choice which I hear will be a chrome diamond plated sheet. The kids will love it.

The lights in the gathering space were installed and door frames were primed. We also had some volunteers remove old lights in the existing building and cut in holes for some new can lights. Most of the new can lights are now in place and working.

The canopy work is ongoing but nearing completion. Herb from Neenah was back and again we are thankful. Jerry continued tiling the gathering space while others worked outside, inside, or a little of both...Blake...thanks for the rear exit doors. Jerry Sitor spent a day tilling and raking to prepare for the installation of the sod. Other Valley members were appreciated for their time and efforts and we hope it continues so we can take occupancy before the end of November. We could use your prayers.

The work is progressing but again some of the work is not as visible as framing and drywalling. Contractors and volunteers have worked on the HVAC or electrical, fire alarm, doors, painting, installing hand rails, ceiling grids, flooring, landscaping, and planning for the new building.

We really feel we have been blessed by everyone who has come here to help and by those who have prayed for us or supported us financially. We certainly could not have done this without you. Now it is up to us to finish the physical work so we can expand His Kingdom. We will post new pictures soon.

Prior to Completion Images (click here)

Completed Building: (click the picture for more images)

It has been a long time since we were able to post any notable images, but we have them now. We appreciate everyone who helped in any way - Labor, prayers or contributions. Our total cost came to around $1,260,000. This was our cap so we will wait to provide the "luxuries". WE had planned to add a nice 50" flat panel monitor to the welcome center as well as some tv's for the youth room. Floor mats, furnishings, etc.. will come.

The building turned out wonderful and we have planned the dedication for February 22. We only await a furnace air return grille to meet our permanent occupancy requirements. Again, we thank everyone. We certainly would not have been able to take on this project without your dedication and hard work.

Building DedicationWe held our building dedication on Feb. 22, 2009 and had a great time! Charles Dunning was presented with a scrap book and well deserved gift certificate to Vince Lombardi's Steakhouse. We have much to be thankful for and we made it known during our dedication service. Here are a few images taken trying to capture another historical event in the life of Valley Baptist Church.

Sept. 30




















Oct. 26

February 2009

Feb. 22, 2009