From Thomas Kim, Churches Helping Churches
When I was in manufacturing, I wanted every operator on the plant floor to know the answers to three questions:
- What is the numeric goal?
- Are you ahead or behind?
- Do you know if your work is good or bad?
More concerning than the actual answers to these questions was whether or not they knew the answers.
I find these questions translate seamlessly to disaster relief. So,
as we continue the work in Haiti, let me give you our
update:
- The goal is 50 churches by the end of summer.
- We’re behind schedule.
- What we’re producing is very, very good.
When we first came to Haiti, we quickly realized we would not be
reconstructing churches, but instead would need to approach our building
effort as if we were constructing churches for the very first time.
There was simply nothing to work with. We quickly donated 34
transitional shelters, made of wood, which has allowed pastoral work to
continue. Then, we immediately began making long-term plans for
permanent structures.
Although the project has been delayed due to logistical problems, we
have been committed to providing a solid foundation for our Haitian
churches to build upon instead of rushing to an inferior solution.
Today, we’re in striking distance of putting up the first of these
structures. Here are some of
the distinctive features of this building:
Structurally sound: The open-air structures have been designed
according to California seismic codes, which account for 8.0 magnitude
earthquakes. They are also hurricane resistant, or able to withstand
winds of up to 140 MPH. - Jumpstart: This is a roof-only structure that will allow churches to
meet under a stable roof. Over time, the church will build the walls
and inner furnishings to their taste, which will not have an affect on
the structural integrity of the building. This works in harmony with
traditional Haitian construction as they build their homes over a
lifetime while living in them.
- Clear span: Most steel structures of this kind have a large I-beam
spanning the entire building, weighing thousands of pounds, and
requiring heavy machinery for assembly. However, our partners, Metal Construction Resources and Joe Meheen, inventor of the tunable bridge,
have replaced that I-beam with something that looks like a bridge. The
clear span (i.e. free from support posts in the middle aisles) is
achieved through light-weight trusses. If you’ve ever sat behind a
column in church, bumped your knees and strained your neck to see the
pastor, you’ll know why a clear span is a practical architectural move
for a church.
- Capacity building:
Most importantly, the unique and lightweight composition of the
structure allows it to be assembled almost entirely by the congregation
with simple hand-tools. The building team will be recruited, trained,
and eligible to receive certification when the building is complete,
which in theory will help them find employment in steel construction – a
blossoming Haitian industry – after the project ends. The team of
builders will in turn head to the next church to train a new team, who
will build their own church, and then send a team to the next church,
until all of the churches have been built.
Match-funding:
Notably, these structures will cost between $4-$5 per square foot to
complete, an unbelievably low price per square foot for a seismic and
hurricane resistant structure. CHC financially matched the program 1:8
to intentionally provide our Haitian pastors with ownership in the
project. It was important to involve the churches in the process
financially. Jesus could have fed the 5,000 with nothing, but instead,
purposely multiplied what they already had – no matter how small – to
provide more than enough to feed the multitudes. These congregations
have each seen God multiply their limited resources to meet their needs
far beyond what they could have imagined. CHC is proud to match over
$100,000 raised through the local church congregations.
When I describe our
Haitian church structure, its cost, and the method we will use to build
each building to experts in the industry, they don’t believe it can be
done. They say the technical specifics are too high, the building is
too cheap – and wonder how it’s possible that average people with
limited training can work together to build something so strong.
At that point I
simply tell the critics that the story gets even better: God also
provided JC Construction, a startup light-gauge steel construction
company based in Haiti, willing to loan us their equipment. And he
provided unexplainable favour from other Haitian and American vendors.
We may be behind
schedule on our new churches. But by taking the time to understand what
will work best in the long term, and then thoughtfully designing our
approach, and serving a gracious God who has blessed this project
abundantly… these Haitian congregations will receive more than just a
new church building. They will be part of a building process will be
edifying to God, to his churches in Haiti, and to the congregations that
serve him.
When all is said and
done, we will have more than just 50 church structures. We will have
50 congregations that have each grown exponentially through the effort.
God is at work in Haiti. And we’re glad to be there to help.
Unless the LORD builds the house, its
builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the
watchmen stand guard in vain. (Psalm 127:1)