FRESNO - Volunteers are key to Baptist ministries worldwide and remodeling California Southern Baptist Convention's Ministry Resource Center is no exception, according to Dennis Schmierer, CSBC business services group leader.

He said volunteers will play a "significant role" in completing the remodel project, to be accomplished in four phases and expected to take about 18 months.

Since its dedication in 1965, the facility has undergone only one major remodel which occurred more than 20 years ago. Schmierer noted that project was a "partial remodel" but this one "will be a complete renovation" of the facility.

Plans call for upgrading electrical and plumbing, interior paint, new flooring, new window coverings, and replacing a majority of the furniture which was purchased when the building was constructed in the mid-1960's.

Dave Swift, bivocational pastor of Golden Valley Baptist Church in Madera, is supervisor for the project.

"A significant amount of volunteer labor is needed for all phases of the project," Swift explained. "We need both skilled and unskilled laborers."

He said individuals with electrical, plumbing, framing, sheetrocking, painting, t-bar/acoustical ceiling, tiling and carpeting skills, and other specialties are needed for the project.

The remodel will be completed in four phases, the first of which will include combining and moving the executive areas from the second to the first floor. The phase also includes updating the computer server room and is expected to take three months to complete - May through July.

The second phase is scheduled to begin in September and entails completely remodeling the second floor, with offices and workspace for 27 specialists and ministry assistants in the church starting, healthy church and missions advancement groups. The area also will include new conference/meeting spaces, and will take about six months to finish, according to Swift.

Remodeling offices and work-spaces for 14 specialists and ministry assistants housed on the west side of the first floor will be included in the project's third phase, encompassing the business services group, church and pastoral care, communications group and information technology.

Phase four will entail the remodel of the boardroom on the first floor and all areas in the basement which include a kitchen, lunchroom, and mail and graphic services. New to the basement will be a conference/meeting room and a small video/sound-recording studio. A multipurpose room for training, conferences, or as a command center for Disaster Relief ministries also will be constructed in the basement.

Those wishing to volunteer for the project can do so here at this site.  Please select the appropriate link below to fill in and submit the form for processing:

Individuals
Groups 

Those without Internet access may call the Ministry Resource Center at 559.256.0810 and leave a message. The call will be returned within 24 hours. 

Schmierer said the remodel is needed to bring the facility, which houses about 50 CSBC staff, "into the 21st century." The project will provide more efficient workspace for employees and will bring the building up to code with the Americans Disabilities Act.

Schmierer noted the CSBC staff "will continue to serve churches through the duration of this project," adding they would be housed in temporary quarters throughout the building while the offices are remodeled.

The $850,000 project will be paid for through the sale of some land adjacent to the Ministry Resource Center, CSBC trust/endowment funds, and donations, Schmierer noted. Those wishing to contribute should contact him by e-mail or by calling 559.256.0869.