February 24, 1999
TBM training center
will teach even in construction
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___When the dirt starts flying at the future site of the Texas Baptist Men training center, it will be a groundbreaking event in every sense of the word, according to Executive Director Jim Furgerson.
___The Robert Dixon Missions Training Center will be strategically located near four major highways in East Dallas.
___The 45,200-square-foot building will provide a garage where the fleet of TBM Disaster Relief vehicles can be stored and maintained, along with an office for the TBM Forever Foundation and storage space for non-perishable food and other supplies.
___"It will provide a place to equip volunteer teams for ministry and missions service, providing them with orientation for their assignments and debriefing after they return," Furgerson said.
___After two acres of concrete is professionally poured for the foundation, the rest of the construction will be done with volunteer labor, said Wilton Davis, leader of TBM Builders.
___Davis has approached two foundations for grants, but the majority of funding will need to come from individuals, he said. Donors should make checks payable to "Texas Baptist Men" and mail them to 333 N. Wash-ington, Dallas, 75246-1798.
___Tom Dance, an architect and member of First Baptist Church in Dallas, is donating his services by drawing building plans.
___If donations are received as expected and all the necessary permits are secured, Davis expects to "start stirring dirt" at the building site in mid-March.
___A builder who specializes in construction with concrete blocks has offered to teach volunteers how to lay blocks.
___"That's the way a lot of construction is done overseas," Furgerson noted. "In building this facility, volunteers will be receiving training to help us fill those international requests.
___"That's what this center is all about. Even the construction of it is a laboratory for hands-on missions training."Frontpage / Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!