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Construction Workers Christian Fellowship

Organization Description & Goals:

There are a number of Christian RV'er groups who devote themselves to assisting other Christian ministries, primarily Christian camps, with their maintenance and construction projects. We are organized in a much more flexible way than most of those groups, and we tend to be involved much longer-term on specific projects. We often will take a new building or addition from ground breaking all the way to completion. But, our volunteers are welcome to serve for as long or short periods of time as they wish. They might serve a single weekend, or a week, or a month, or several months, depending on the project and their availability. We have had volunteers on a church project for three years, in the past, where the church raised the necessary funds to proceed with construction as they went along. Typically, however, we may be on a project just for a couple of weeks to three or four months, again, depending on the scope of the work. One of the most unique things about our ministry is that we were founded with the intention of reaching the construction industry for Christ through evangelism and discipleship. To be honest, that emphasis waned over the years, but was never forgotten. Today, through our TOOLBOX Safety Cards initiative, and our Building in Youth ministry, we are attempting to get back into the secular construction world. We actively seek people with a heart to reach this "least reached people group" - the American construction worker!

Organizational Principles

Purpose & Mission Statement:

Our mission is  to assist Christian organizations in the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through specialized construction help, at home and abroad;  to encourage and mentor Christians in (and into) the construction trades, to excel as craftsmen and to bring the redeeming influence of godly lives and a Christian world view into the workplace;  to tell construction workers about the saving power of Jesus Christ, that they may experience a changed life. Revised by the Board of Directors, 05December2011

Doctrinal Statement:

Our Statement of Faith: 1. We believe that the Bible, consisting of Old and New Testaments only, is verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit, is inerrant in the original manuscripts, and is the infallible and authoritative Word of God. 2. We believe that the one triune God exists eternally in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 3. We believe that Adam, created in the image of God was tempted by Satan, the god of this world, and fell. Because of Adam's sin all men have guilt imputed, are totally depraved, and need to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit for salvation. 4. We believe that Jesus Christ is God, was born of a virgin, died vicariously, shed His blood as man's substitutionary sacrifice, rose bodily, and ascended to heaven where He is presently exalted at the Father's right hand. 5. We believe that salvation consists in the remission of sins, the imputation of Christ's righteousness, and the gift of eternal life received by faith alone, apart from works. 6. We believe that the return of Jesus Christ is imminent, and that it will be visible and personal. 7. We believe that the saved will be raised to everlasting life and blessedness in heaven, and that the unsaved will be raised to everlasting and conscious punishment in hell. 8. We believe that the Church, the Body of Christ, consists only of those who are born again, who are baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ at the time of regeneration, for whom He now makes intercession in heaven and for whom He will come again. 9. We believe that Christ commanded the church to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, baptizing and teaching those who believe.

Core Values:

Trip Costs Details:

Most of our construction volunteers are RV'ers, although not all of them are. Our client ministries provide RV parking and utilities, and/or lodging, and usually at least one meal per day. Travel expenses are the responsibility of the volunteers.

Training Required for Service:

Yes - Because we work at Christian youth camps and churches where our missionaries and volunteers may come into contact with young people, Child and Youth Protection Training and certification (provided through us) is required. Otherwise, "training" is required only to the extent that the volunteer should have at least a little background in construction and maintenance skills, and must consent to a background check (small fee is charged) and submit references. We provide a handbook to guide their experience with us.

Training Provided by Organization:

We provide online Child and Youth Protection Training and certification. Small fee may apply.

Long-Term Missionary Accountability Practices:

Our "construction missionaries" are a unique bunch, just as our ministry is unique. We have a Member Care department and a Project/Volunteer Coordinator who keep in touch with our field staff on a regular basis. Every other year we hold a "Rendezvous" at a camp somewhere in the continental United States, and encourage all our missionary staff and as many volunteers who can make it to attend. We process all donations here in the home office, and send monthly statements to our staff, along with paychecks - provided the funds are available for them! :>)

Application Process:

Application for service with us begins here: http://www.cwcf.org/volunteering/about/. All volunteers and potential missionary candidates begin as Associates (or RV'ers for Christ). We have two classes of service beyond volunteering, "VCM's" and "FSM's". Volunteer Construction Missionaries (VCM's) serve a minimum of three months per year with us. They must raise a prayer partnership team, and may, if they wish, raise financial partners for help with their ministry expenses, primarily travel. VCM's do NOT receive a salary and are not considered employees. Faith Supported Missionaries (FSM's), serve full or part-time with us. They also raise a prayer support team, and a financial support team to provide for their salary and other ministry expenses. Most of our current missionaries came to us with a support base already in place, so I don't have any data on the average length of time a brand new missionary might take to get to the field.

Speaking to Past or Present Missionaries:

Telephones and personal interviews. We are all located stateside at this time.

Types of Volunteer(s) that we are Seeking:

We are especially looking for men and women skilled in the construction trades, but we haven't turned away "handy helpers" either! We have a real need for construction team leaders (site foremen, project managers, etc.) who have experience in the industry but are also able to work with volunteers - quite different from industry! We are seeking men and women working in the construction industry who have a calling on their lives to impact it for Christ, and are looking for ways to do that. Our strategy is multi-faceted, and includes the establishment of local Hard Hats for Christ Chapters across the nation, the distribution of TOOLBOX Safety Cards and phone app, and the recruitment of young people into the industry through Building In Youth. We have a need for replacement staff as our present administration and field missionary staff look toward retirement in 5-10 years. We view the construction industry as one of the "least-reached people groups" in North America. We know of no other group whose stated purpose is to evangelize and disciple construction workers. We need construction disciple-makers! We turn down many projects b/c of a lack of construction team leaders (especially) and volunteers. We have administrative/office needs at the home office in Longview, Washington, from secretary to eventual succession of our CEO. We are launching new initiatives and need help with web-based platforms and publishing. While all of our ministry divisions overlap in purpose, they are so diverse that no single profile would represent the "ideal volunteer" for our entire organization. Here are some characteristics that might fit one or more of our ministry profiles: * Experience in/familiarity with the construction industry - Tradesman, craftsperson - Jobsite foreman, supervisor - Project manager, estimator, design professional - Contractor, subcontractor, builder, remodeler - Significant "handyman" experience * Ability to work as/with volunteers * Desire to see the Great Commission fulfilled - Within the construction industry - Through other ministries such as Christian camps, rural churches, North American or overseas mission agencies/groups, urban ministries, etc. * Desire to impact/mentor young people for lifelong service, especially related to construction fields (but not exclusively) * Excited to use construction or other skills to improve the "built environment" for the glory of God

Required Costs:

Funding needs are unique to the individuals involved. They might be no more than travel expenses from home to a jobsite located nearby, in their region, or across the nation. On the other hand, full-time construction missionaries must raise their own support to cover ministry expenses, and a salary (if needed), and any benefits.

Training Process:

"Associates" - those who serve occasionally, for a limited time, at their own expense, receive a brief orientation packet and are assigned work under one of our field staff construction missionaries. Associates who commit to serving at least 3 months per year with us are classified as "Volunteer Construction Missionaries (VCM's)". They are allowed to raise funds to help cover ministry expenses (optional) and receive a one-day orientation at our headquarters or on a project work site. VCM's who choose to become full or part-time staff, "Faith Supported Missionaries (FSM's)" attend a week-long orientation at our headquarters, and participate in Partnership Development to raise the funds necessary for their ministry work. Builders wanting to start a Hard Hats for Christ Chapter receive guidelines and a site visit from our staff.