“It is ordinary people doing extraordinary things,” was how church trustee Mike Foley described what was happening at Clear Springs Baptist Church.

There have been workers there this week from across the country putting up the walls, trusses and other components of a new sanctuary.

Last July 7th the one they had built in 1996 was seriously damaged, as either the roof pushed the walls out or the walls dropped the ceiling. However it happened that part of the church was unusable.

It had gone up, almost completely, in one week with the help of 200 volunteers.

“We didn't need that many people this time,” Foley said. “We didn't advertise for so many people.

This time, he said, they were progressing more slowly. The sanctuary went from bare slab to an inclosed building in three days, and they expect to have the roofing done next week with brick work to follow.

The construction is going forward despite the church's insurance company's foot draging on the issue.

“We'll get the money,” Foley said. “Every bit owed, not a bit more and not a bit less.”

For now Deacon Randy Taylor said the church will borrow if necessary to purchase the building materials, while volunteers do all the work.

“We've got people here from California, Tennessee, Arkansas, Washington State and all around,” Taylor said.

Volunteer Roger Owen of Star City said, “The four of us came up from Arkansas.”

Bill Tom, who was one of that foursome Owen mentioned, said he had worked on the previous sanctuary and would be working with Clear Springs parishioner Jimmy Coffey on other building other churches this summer.

“I've done this in 16 foreign countries and I don't know how many states,” said David Mosley of Murfreesboro who also volunteers as a missionary building churches.

The 50 or so volunteers were feed three meals a day by the members of the church, working in the basement of the undamaged portion of the church.