GROUP LENDS LOCAL CONGREGATION A HAND

JACKSON -- For God they truss.

Over the past seven years, Dale Orr and his small group of carpenters have built eight churches or church-oriented structures.

This week, the group that calls itself "Truss And Obey Lay Builders" is in Jackson building a new education center for the Shawnee Hills Baptist Church.

Among the builders is Orr, a math teacher in the Tulsa, Okla., school system, a member of the Owassa, Okla., school board and a part-time carpenter.

Alfred Treat, a former over-the-road truck driver who retired eight years ago, has worked as a carpenter the past four years.

George Orr, who repaired aircraft as a mechanic for American Airlines before retiring, now saws lumber and helps his son, Dale, in the carpentry business.

The Rev. Macke Hawkins, minister of a church in Georgia, takes time out during his vacation to hammer nails.

One week each year, the Orrs, Treat, Hawkins and a number of other carpenters put their talents to work for church and community as they construct -- free of charge -- church buildings.

"All we ask during this period each year is a place to sleep and three meals a day," said Dale Orr, who founded the Truss And Obey Lay Builders about eight years ago.

The 1994 week-long project is the building of the education center for the Shawnee Hills Church, 1204 Brandom.

"It's unbelievable," said the Rev. Raymond Epps, pastor of the church. "I never saw a building go up so fast. They started Saturday, and Monday they were putting up the trusses."

The two-story, 30-by-76 foot building will be under roof this week.

"There are 34 people here from a half-dozen states -- Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee," said Epps. "And everybody knows what they are doing."

Dale Orr said, "A lot of these guys have been doing this 10 years or more. Some of them are retired and others are taking vacation time to help put up the building."

Orr came in earlier to look over the site and see the plans.

"This is about a 60- to 65-hour project," said Orr. "Of course, you have to multiply that by 34."

In the group are seven women and six teen-agers, he said.

"I drive nails, help measure lumber and see that the men have the supplies they need," said Karen Hawkins, wife of the Rev. Macke Hawkins. "This is my first time to take a week off to help. Previously, I worked only on weekends."

Rev. Hawkins has been on the receiving end of the group's construction talents twice.

"I was a pastor at Overland Park, Kan., the first time the group built a church for me," he said. "I'm pastor at Conyers, Ga., now and the Truss and Obey Builders constructed my church there."

Hawkins, who accompanies the group on its annual building spree, says he also serves as chaplain for the crew.

The Truss and Obey group came into being in 1988 with six members. The first building was a church for Rev. Hawkins.

"We take on one big project each year," said Orr. "We receive bulletins from the Oklahoma Baptist Buildings Association and the Missouri Baptist Builders on projects being planned."

Orr said when he noticed the report that an education center was planned at the Shawnee Hills Church, he contacted a number of the Truss and Obey group.

"We have about 80 members," he said. "We found 34 that could help out this week."

Some of the workers stay in recreation vehicles, others have campers, some are staying in the homes of church members and still others are sleeping in the church.

Three meals a day are prepared by local church members for the builders.

"We have an RV here," said Treat, of Maude, Okla. "My wife is here, and we enjoy meeting new people. We get a blessing out of it."

"There are a lot of groups across the U.S. that do this," added Treat. "My wife, Rebecca, and I will be heading for Montana later this month to help construct a Baptist Church Camp."

"When my son told me what he was doing eight years ago, I told him he was crazy," said the elder Orr. "But, here I am now doing the same thing and enjoying it."

"This is kind of a family-reunion thing," said the younger Orr. "You see a lot of the same people year after year. And sometimes you'll find someone who wants to join your group for the next job. In fact, we've met some people here who may join us next year."

"The workers are here at their own expense," said Epps. "All we provide are the meals and building materials for the church."

A local church member, James Johns, drew up the plans for the new education center. Johns, who has helped build other churches, is retired from Penzel Construction Co. The new structure, which includes a basement, features 14 classrooms, a library and some offices.

The Truss and Obey group made contact with the church after hearing about the project through the Missouri Baptist Builders in Jefferson City.

"They made contact with us, told what they could do, and we presented it to the church for approval," said Epps.

When the builders leave, another group will step in.

"About 45 members of the Palmetta, Ga., Baptist Church will come in next," said Rev. Epps. "Included in that group are electricians and sheet rock workers."

Epps said the church is looking to a mid-August opening for the completed building.

"We'll be saving about 40 percent on the original projected costs of the structure," said Epps, who added that the biggest expense could be that of brick laying.

"We used to have a bricklayer in our group," said Orr. "He became ill and had to quit. We haven't found another one yet, but we're still looking."