The Master’s Builders Build an Ark

By NELDA MALONE
The Master's Builders Reporter

​The Master’s Builders began work on job #199 on May 4 at Camp Garwood, Missouri. Camp Garwood is just east of Van Buren, Missouri. Van Buren is located on the Current River in a beautiful Ozark Mountain setting. It was so good to see Camp Director Chris Polk (pastor of Matthews Missionary Baptist Church) and his wife Laura again. The Master’s Builders worked at Camp Garwood last April for the first time and helped build a 20 by 60-foot building for a nurses’ station with living quarters on one side and two additional living quarters on the other side for prophet/evangelist quarters. This building also serves as the registration and check-in for the camp and was well used last camp season.
 
Bro. Chris had unique needs for the camp this year. He needed a GaGa pit built (first ever for the camp), two multi-use carpet ball tables which can convert to serving tables, and an ark. Bro. Chris wanted these added to the camp for children to enjoy for years to come. The Ark was something that The Builders had never even thought about building before. The 15-foot tall, 12-foot wide and 23-foot-long two-story vessel was something to behold once completed. The Master’s Builders were given the plans; the camp had the wood on hand and ready and with God’s guidance they began to build.
 
Each morning at 7:00 a.m., The Builders gather for a time of bible devotion, a “circle up” prayer time and always ending with singing “The Family of God” together. With that, each were encouraged and strengthened to begin the day’s work. It was “all hands-on deck” for the first week as The Ark was the challenge facing them. The “saw man”, had so many angles that had to be cut it was slow going for a while in the beginning. For safety purposes there were some adjustments needed to the plans so there was a lot of “ciphering” taking place throughout the build. The Builders did face a problem that Noah never faced during his approximate 100-year ark building; rain on the second day! Work outside ceased for a bit, however, the carpet ball table building started under a shed. The Ark was completed in a little over a week and then work continued with the carpet ball tables and GaGa pit. Each of these was placed in the area specifically prepared for them on the campgrounds.

​There were ten Master’s Builders who traveled to Missouri and worked on this project. The group was so blessed to have Barbara and Tobin Bushman, of Strafford, Missouri, join in on this job. Barbara helped for a day on a job at Oak Ridge Baptist Church, in Cassville, Missouri, back in April of 2024 as Tobin had not yet retired. Barbara brought new perspective to this build as she also does beautiful woodworking as a hobby. Tobin was excited to begin his journey in building and never expected to have the opportunity to build an ark. He found out quickly he loved the Hilti gun. They were both so fun and they sure helped to “energize” the older folks. What a blessing to have them become a part of this group.
 
Bro. Chris Polk, dad Lonnie and daughter Chloe, helped on these projects also. As always, the Builders enjoyed precious fellowship with them. The Master’s Builders ladies met every workday for a time of prayer, devotional and Bible Study. All enjoyed sweet fellowship and a time to share burdens, prayer concerns, joys and praises with fellow sisters.
 
Thank you to Camp Garwood for giving The Master’s Builders the opportunity to serve in your camp ministry. Thank you to Bro. Chris, Laura and family for always making the group feel loved and appreciated. The Builders are so thankful for all who made sure they were never hungry: Bro Claude Evans (pastor, Stony Point Baptist Church) and wife, Bea, who worked tirelessly, cooking and seeing to both needs and wants. Sweet friend, Janet Widger, for cooking a meal or two or three, and getting to spend time in fellowship with the Builders. Sharon Lourance for cooking for several days before bringing a meal and many homemade sweet snacks to share, which were all enjoyed! Thank you to Zion Baptist Church, St. Louis, for the salad bar makings provided each day; Ohlman Baptist Church and Lower Doe Run Baptist Church for a time of worship, fellowship and food enjoyed on both Sundays. Special thanks to the Ohlman Baptist Church family for the delicious fish fry and fellowship on the last Saturday evening there. Thank you to Bro. Melvin Meade and his wife Carolyn for the sweet fellowship the Builders enjoyed so much. Bro. Meade is very talented with woodworking and brought a homemade challenge game for The Master’s Builders to try. It is sometimes called “Wall Climber Ball Maze” or “Swiss Cheese”. Look at it on The Master’s Builders Facebook page, close to the end of the posts for the Camp Garwood job, and you’ll see two of the men make it “Home.” You’ll want one too! The Master’s Builders may have to make one now. Thank you, Bro. Meade for sharing the work of your hands and heart. The Master’s Builders appreciate everything that was done for the group and pray no one was left out as every Builder felt the love and warm welcome to the camp.
 
The Master’s Builders encourage you to “Follow” them on Facebook. There is so much more to see and enjoy as they go through each day of each job. “Like” them at The Master’s Builders (arbor logo). The next job will be at Jacksonville College in Jacksonville, Texas, starting on June 1. This will be the 200th opportunity to serve for The Master’s Builders Ministry since it began in 1991. Thank you Lord for each one of them. The Builders plan to celebrate this accomplishment on June 9.
 
Please pray for The Master’s Builders as they strive to serve our Lord in this ministry. The Builders have been so encouraged by a few new folks to the ministry in the last year. What a blessing each one is to the group. However, The Master’s Builders desperately need more workers if this ministry is to continue. Most of the men are in their late 70’s or 80’s. Lord, please send more workers!
 
If you have questions about this ministry or if your church has building needs, contact Mike Green at (972) 935-3877, David Axe (903) 918-0702 or Eddie Sikes at (479) 462-1675.

The Ark! at Camp Garwood

The finished GaGa Pit

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Applying carpet to the carpet ball tables

Men hard at work assembling the Gaga Pit