The Building of a Church

Jaunary 2012 began a year long process of building a new church building in Sidalaghatta.





Members of the church at Sidalahgatta gather for a special
ground breaking ceremony for the building of their new church.













The location of where the foundation is going to be
is outlined in chalk.

 


Chalk outline of the building shows where to
start digging for the foundation.





Before the digging begins, CSM Executive Director
leads those gathered in prayer for the new
Church building.

 



White Oak staff member Becky Bennett participated
in the ground breaking ceremony.





The Sidlighatta Pastoral Staff participate in the
ground breaking ceriemonies as well.

 


After the ground breaking ceremony, Mathew Mathai
once again leads the congregation in prayer.  Standing
next to Mathew is his brother John Mathai who serves
as the CSM Business Manager.






Once the people get out of the way,
in comes the heavy equipment.

  



Heavy Equipment getting ready to dig out the foundation,

 



Getting ready to lay the corner stone, Mathew Mathai,
Rick Shonkwiler, David Willmore, Tom Platen, and
Mike Wodke have prayer at the base of the foundation.



Mathew Mathai lays the first stone.



Mathew Mathai prays for the builing project after laying the first stone.



Rick Shonkwiler lays the 2nd stone.

Observe the concrete deliver system.  Concrete mix in bags
on a cart pulled by an ox.



The ladies load sand into the pans, carry them on their heads
to the gas powered concrete mixer







The sand is mixed with gravel, water and
the bags of concrete from the Ox Cart into
the mixer.





As the building takes shape, there is a lot of detail still be done



Still lots of detail inside and out.  We are still about 3 months
from the dedication.

Interior is definitely beginning to take shape, but there is still
several weeks of detail work before it is ready.



Construction finished, it is time for the ribbon cutting.
Rick Shonkwiler has been given the honor of cutting it.



With the ribbon cut, it is not the privilege of Mary and Mathew Mathai
to open the doors so all can enter for the worship celbration of dedication.



Hundreds of worshipers come together for
this dedication service of the new church.



As is typical of Indian celebrations, you can not celebrate without eating too.



Lloyd Hamilton and Becky Bennett were blessed to be a part of the
worship celebration of dedication.





Thirteen months after the process began, welcome to
The Church at Sidalaghatta.





This projrct was made possible by the most generous gift from
Mrs. Francis Long given to White Oak Christian Church. 
Thanks to the genersous giving of someone who loves God and wants
the Word of God spread, churches like this can be built.
We have more to do.  Thank you Francis.