Churches work hard for new buildings

Some area churches have good reason for celebration.

The First Baptist Church in Perryville, Mo., is using volunteer labor to rebuild its sanctuary and add classrooms, a kitchen and fellowship areas. The congregation plans to celebrate Thanksgiving in its new sanctuary.

Not only are volunteers from across the state aiding in the construction, but the church also received a welcome $160,000 gift to help pay for it, which means members won't go into debt.

The Second Missionary Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau is building a new church at Beaudean and Elm streets. It will replace the much loved but crumbling 134-year-old church where the congregation currently meets.

It hasn't been easy. The congregation raised money for years to do the project and had to find suitable land and hire contractors and architects. But faith and prayer brought them to a recent groundbreaking ceremony.

Certainly, the new churches will be blessings to both their congregations and the communities around them.