Church Mobilization Continues Helping Assemblies of God Churches Build for the Harvest

New Life Church in Laramie, Wyoming, opened the doors of its new facility shortly before Easter this year, representing the fruition of years of faith, sacrifice, and partnership, including the support of Church Mobilization.

Part of AG U.S. Missions, Church Mobilization helps churches expand their capacity for ministry through volunteer labor, expertise, discounted construction supplies, and other resources.  

For Billy Thomas, national director of Church Mobilization, stories like New Life Church’s construction project success highlight the heart of the ministry.

“I’m not a builder or a contractor” Thomas says, “but I know how to put a plan together to maximize impact.”

Rather than focusing solely on buildings, Church Mobilization’s mission is to help congregations reach more people with the gospel.

Matt Baumgartner and his wife, Melanie, arrived in Laramie from Texas to revitalize New Life Church. At the time of their arrival, the congregation had declined to about a dozen people, and the church’s aging facility presented additional challenges.

“The building was in bad shape and there was no room for growth or expansion,” Baumgartner recalls.

Five years ago, the church took a significant step of faith and sold their existing building. They spent several years as a portable church while clinging to the belief that God had plans for them to find a permanent home.

The journey was not easy, and property searches, financial challenges, and construction hurdles seemed endless. But eventually, the church purchased land and began building a new facility.

Throughout the process, Church Mobilization became an invaluable partner.

One unique aspect of Church Mobilization is its network of RV volunteers, teams consisting of retired or semi-retired believers who travel the country assisting churches or ministries.

Many possess decades of experience in construction trades or other skilled professions.

Baumgartner first gained greater awareness of the ministry after being invited to an annual RV volunteer rally in Illinois, where churches present upcoming projects and connect with skilled volunteers who commit to helping.

Through those relationships, RV volunteer workers became involved even before construction began. Architectural drawings were started on site, helping the church save money from the outset. Once the property was acquired, teams arrived over multiple summers to assist with foundation work and numerous other construction projects. At one point, 26 volunteer workers were serving on site together.

“We had the shell completed with plumbing and electrical, and then RV workers finished the majority of the interior,” Baumgartner says.

Volunteers installed drywall, flooring, ceiling grids, lighting fixtures, baseboards, the sound booth, and other finishing elements. Church Mobilization also connected the congregation with vendor discounts that reduced costs even further.

“I know for a fact we saved $40,000 on drywall alone,” reports Baumgartner.

Overall, he estimates the church saved approximately $200,000 through volunteer labor and ministry partnerships. Today, the congregation carries a loan of less than one-third of the property’s insured value.

Church Mobilization’s impact also went beyond financial savings.

Before moving into the facility, New Life Church averaged about 140 attendees, but since opening their new building 17 weeks ago, attendance has already increased by roughly 30 percent.

“The growth in the new building has been incredible,” Baumgartner says. “A huge part of that was the RV workers and Church Mobilization as a whole, bringing awareness and labor.”

The church continues to maintain a project list for future volunteer teams.

Across the country, Harvest Church in Glendale, Arizona, was also blessed by Church Mobilization.

Led by pastor Ron Rockwell, Thomas remembers visiting the church when it was a small congregation. Decades later, the church recently completed a major expansion that now allows the church to accommodate approximately 2,500 people. He estimates that Church Mobilization partnerships have helped save the congregation more than $10 million through the years.

The relationship has become so meaningful that Thomas continues to minister there regularly.

Thomas believes that while construction projects and financial savings are impressive, they are not the ultimate measure of success.Whether serving in Wyoming, Arizona, or hundreds of other communities, Church Mobilization exists to help local churches create environments where people can encounter Christ.

The new facility in Laramie is a shining example. The only Wyoming community with a university but no Pentecostal church for many years now has a growing Assemblies of God congregation equipped to reach students, families, and residents throughout the region.

From a mobile church to a thriving community presence, Thomas says that this is the perfect illustration of what can happen when churches, volunteers, and ministries partner together to advance the gospel.

EDITOR'S NOTE: June 28 is Church Mobilization Day in the Assemblies of God.

Ashley B. Grant

Ashley B. Grant has a master's degree in Human Services Marriage and Family Counseling from Liberty University and is a credentialed Christian counselor through the American Association of Christian Counselors. Grant also holds certifications in crisis pregnancy counseling and advanced life coaching. Ashley is a fourth generation Assemblies of God preacher’s kid and has one daughter and three sons.