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MINNEOTA

A lot of members of Bethel Fellowship Church had taken the week off, said pastor Tom Nomeland. But they weren't on vacation - they were up in the scaffolding at a construction site along Highway 68.

"We've got some members who are professional, or really talented carpenters," Nomeland said. "I think people are probably gonna want to hire us after this."

The volunteers have been working long days all this week to help get a new church built, right next to the current Bethel Fellowship.

"It's awesome," said volunteer Marcia Johnson. "I've been with them ever since they dug trenches to put in the footing."

In some ways, Nomeland said, it might seem like the wrong time for the congregation to be building. The economic downturn and local job losses have been felt by members of the congregation. Yet, he said, it's a hopeful sign that people are still willing to come together to help.

"It's encouraging to see the church starting out, even in hard times," Nomeland said.

For the past couple of days, members of the Bethel congregation have been building walls and supports for the new church. On Thursday, the first roofing trusses were put in place with the help of a crane and the crew of volunteers.

"We had some of the guys from the elevator take some pictures of the construction from the top of the elevator," said Elana Nomeland. People around town have started asking about the construction, too.

Tom Nomeland and volunteer Kevin Anundson said the whole planning and fund-raising process for the new church has taken two or three years. The project started out as an addition to the current church building, but Nomeland said that plan didn't work out.

"It was kind of like putting a new patch on an old garment," Nomeland said.

Plans for the new church include a bigger worship space and room for offices and a church library, said Kevin Anundson.

"I think it's about a 70 foot span," he said of the trusses being put in.

Anundson said the property Bethel Fellowship bought for the new church was the location of the Flemmings garage, a cement block building that had to be torn down before construction work could begin.

Several women from the congregation were helping out by providing meals for the builders and serving as supply runners. Some were getting into the construction work itself, like Debbie Engels, who was busy measuring and cutting lumber with a circular saw on Thursday.

"We see it as a ministry within the church and within the community," Engels said. "I've worked together with some of (the builders) before on other missions, but it's been good to work with different people and get to know them."

Everyone old enough to help out was welcome at the site. A group of boys including Keith Anundson and Ethan Kurka carried in pieces of lumber to use as supports.

"We helped a little bit with putting up the walls," Anundson said.

"It's going up really quick," Kurka said. He liked helping out, but he said he was okay with not climbing up to do the truss work. "I think I'll stay on the ground."

Although it was fun to see the church walls and roof go up, volunteers said they were looking forward to the time when it can serve its intended purpose.

"It's a good thing to do for the community," Keith Anundson said.