Expanding the LIA Ministry Center

Martha and I are so excited about what God is doing through Love In Action, and the ministry has grown so much that it is time to expand the Love In Action Ministry Center in Dothan, Ala.

We held a meeting last Thursday to share the vision and 35 people attended. The great thing is about 80 percent of them had never been to the LIA Ministry Center. They had read about it and watched videos on our Web site, but had never visited. That's what we were hoping for, because that means more people who are interested in getting involved.

To further meet the needs of the homeless and needy in our hometown of Dothan, Ala., we need to add another restroom, install two showers, build a laundry room, and construct and outfit a full-service kitchen. Then, the homeless can come in and take showers and have their clothes washed. The homeless really do care about their hygiene, and this will help meet that need. It is also good for them when they have job interviews. The little money they do make working temporary jobs don't go far at laundry mats, so this will be an extra blessing for them. A bath and laundry ministry is a great way to reach the homeless. We have helped four other ministries around the nation start a bath ministry. Now we have the facility to start one. Praise God!

The kitchen would open up a wide array of ministry opportunities. We could serve breakfast, lunch and/or dinner during the week and/or weekends.

This will also expand our ministry area, which will be a great blessing. We are averaging 70-80 people every Tuesday night for Celebrate Recovery, and that will continue to grow. On Wednesday's we are averaging 30 for Bible study and discipleship classes, and that number will continue to grow as well. Last Thanksgiving we had 200 people at our Thanksgiving outreach, and we had 180 for Christmas.

This expansion will give people in the Dothan area more opportunities to serve the homeless and needy. It's time, and we're moving forward with our first-ever building project.

Here is a breakdown of everything, including the bids that we have received:

1. Floor covering:
Scope of work (about 8,000 sq. ft.):
- Remove existing VCT from front of ministry center to firewall
- Prepare floors to receive new VCT
- Install new VCT & vinyl base
Labor & Materials: $12,500

2. Plumbing:
Scope of work:
- Demo floors & walls to rough in plumbing
- Provide new bath fixtures (showers, lavatories, toilets)
- Installation
Labor & Materials: No charge

3. Doors:
Scope of work:
- Provide fire rated frame & steel doors at firewall
- Provide wood frames & doors for interior
Labor & Materials: $2,793

4. Store front (optional)
Scope of work:
- Provide pair of aluminum doors 1/4 glass
Labor & Materials: $1,650

5. Roll up door
Scope of Work:
- Provide & install 8'X10' fireproof roll up door
Labor & Materials: No charge

6. Metal framing/sheet rock/ceilings:
Scope of work:
- Frame firewall with 6" metal studs
- Frame bathroom/showers/laundry room/kitchen with 4" metal studs
- Acoustical ceiling in above areas
- Hang & finish sheet rock in new areas
- Firewall to receive 5/8" sheet rock on both sides (1 hour rating); 1/2" in other areas
- Will provide labor to construct walls & ceilings at no cost and will supervise hanging and finishing of sheet rock, also at no cost
Labor & Materials: $6,536

7. Insulation:
Scope of work:
- Provide 3-and-one-half-inch insulation for all new walls
Labor & Materials: $500

8. Demo:
Scope of work:
- Demo exterior walls to receive new door & frames
- Support openings with steel framing
- Install new door & frames (excludes store front)
- Install steel support for existing roll up door
Labor & Materials: $3,432

9. Steel:
Scope of work:
- Provide all steel needed to support exterior door openings
Materials: No charge

10. Package 3-ton heat pump & A/C for classrooms:
Scope of work:
- Roof unit for existing classrooms
Labor & Materials: $6,000

11. Sprinkler system:
Scope of work:
- Add sprinkler system in all new areas
Labor & Materials: $4,100

12. Security system:
- $70/month

13. Consulting services: No charge

Total cost of project: $37,511. If not for the donations of labor and materials by some of the bidders, the project would cost nearly $60,000, so you can see how God is already blessing this step of faith.

We are doing everything by city code, and items like the firewall and exterior doors are things the city requires us to do, and it all makes sense for safety reasons.

Our goal is to raise $40,000 and do the entire project. Our first goal to meet is $10,000 by Easter. That's just six weeks away, but we believe God will provide.

What can you do to help? First, please pray for us. Then, donate money to help us reach this goal. If you are receiving an income tax return, please consider giving some of it to help. Tell others about it and ask them to donate. Talk with your pastors and tell them what Love In Action is doing. We are available to come speak to your church about Love In Action. Talk with business men and women and ask them to donate.

When construction begins, we will need help cleaning up, because we will still hold Celebrate Recovery and Bible study during the construction. We will need help painting and other things as they arise.

Please pray about what you can do to help us reach even more of the homeless and needy in Dothan with the love of Jesus Christ through acts of compassion.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 334-494-4995 or email me at loveinactionministries@hotmail.com

Thank you and may God bless you.