Noticias Teocráticas-Actualités Théocratiques-Theocratic News

An open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the new building south of U.S. 50 off La Plata Avenue. The building will be a Bible education center and will house weekly Sunday meetings.

The construction process, called a quick build, used materials from Hylton Lumber in Salida.

Loyal Jessey, who supervised construction, said, “We do the quick build so we can get back to where we live – back to our normal routine.”

The congregation formerly used the building now occupied by Montessori Creative Art School in Salida.

Unlike many Kingdom Halls, the one in Poncha Springs was built with windows -two on the north side. Volunteer Phillip Fisher of Salida said Kingdom Halls usually don’t have windows to lower insurance cost and simplify construction.

The building is far enough from neighborhoods that congregation members don’t have to worry about people throwing rocks at windows, he said.

Fischer helped house volunteers in about 25 recreational vehicles in the RV park east of Salida. Other volunteers stayed in motels and with local Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The building has a main auditorium and stage, a foyer, two multi-purpose rooms for libraries or small gatherings, and a restroom.

Jessey, an Elder in the Salida congregation, has traveled to many quick builds around the state with Regional Building Committee 2 composed of Jehovah’s Witnesses from southern Colorado.

The committee is responsible for construction and maintenance of places of worship.

In addition to Salida and Poncha Springs, members of Regional Building Committee 2 came from Buena Vista, Nathrop, Monte Vista, Woodland Park, Gunnison, Cañon City, Center, Denver and Alamosa.

Volunteers also traveled from New Mexico, Texas, Wyoming and Virginia.

Jessey said construction of Kingdom Hall was quicker in the past, but more recently has taken an extra day or two because “there is much more attention to quality and safety. We have a safety meeting every morning and an inspection every afternoon.”

He said some past Kingdom Halls were built too quickly and portions didn’t last long.

Regional Building Committee members wanted a complete project that would require minimal future repair.

About 60 Jehovah’s Witnesses live in Salida and Poncha Springs, Jessey said.

Gourmet meals for construction crew members were provided by professional caterer Sherman Leache of Littleton and his staff – many of whom were working together for the first time.

Leache has been cooking for construction crews for 10 years, including some of the crews rebuilding in the New Orleans area.

Food included Chicken Cordon Blue, vegetarian entrees, enchiladas, and cake.

“We all gain about five pounds each time we do this,” Jessey said.

By Sunday, the building was ready for sound system wiring. Sound crew members, led by John Daily of Colorado Springs, arose at 5 a.m. to have most of their work done before construction workers returned to the job.

Like a television makeover show, nearly 250 Jehovah’s Witness volunteers from across the region swarmed the Ault Kingdom Hall to rebuild it. The building was not completely torn down, but it was demolished on the inside and extended 20 feet.

“It’s something cool to watch,” said Roger Kelley, a member of the Ault congregation.

Jehovah’s Witnesses use this fast-building technique throughout the world. The regional building committee that oversees most of Colorado rebuilt six this year.

“Our main focus is on our ministry,” Kelley said. “By building quickly, we can get back to that.”

When the congregation decided to give the aging hall, originally a quick-build in 1984, a makeover, they contacted the Regional Building Committee, which helped organize the project. The committee helps the congregation obtain loans through their organization and decide what aspects of the rebuild are necessary.

“For us, it is the realization of years of planning and saving,” Kelley said.

Money for the project came from loans from the Jehovah’s Witness organization and from saving donations made by members.

Five weeks ago, the work began for the Ault congregation. They demolished the inside of the building, leaving only a skeleton. The group also arranged to have concrete poured for the parking lot and sidewalks around the hall.

Then the fast-paced makeover began. The project continues 24 hours a day for four days. Volunteers specialize in any number of construction aspects including brick laying, stucco, roofing, electric, drywall, heating and air conditioning vents, security, parking supervisors and more.

“It’s amazing to have this many people working together,” said Leo Newell, a member of the Ault congregation. Newell has helped work on and organize several other quick-build projects.

Each of the four days of construction, the entire 250-member crew pauses in the morning for a Scripture reading and discussion.

“It helps us remember this is an act of love and worship,” Kelley said.

Friday morning the roof was finished in three hours, and by Friday afternoon, the outlines of the bathrooms, teaching room, mother’s room and main auditorium were all evident. Crews were only waiting on a inspector to OK the electrician’s work before they began putting up walls. Saturday, the crew expected to begin painting, and Sunday the project was expected to be finished.

The congregation is excited to see the fruit of their hard work and planning and held a brief Watch Tower Study on Sunday afternoon.

“We want a place that reflects well on our God,” said Kelley.