By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter
LORANGER – When general contractor Mike Baham of Loranger learned that True Vine Indian [Baptist] Church in Bristow, Okla., needed a building, he loaded up his crew of five employees, two company trucks, and a trailer of tools, for a week-long construction trip – all at his expense.
Baham, of Mike Baham and Sons LLC, paid his employees their regular 40 hour-a-week wages and covered the cost of travel.
[img_assist|nid=6517|title=General contractor Mike Baham poses with his crew and members of True Vine Indian Church in Bristow Okla.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=75]When Baham first mentioned the trip to his employees, Chris Boudreaux, a non-Baptist, hesitated because he didn’t want to spend a week away from his wife and children, ages 3 and 7 months.
“But the more I heard about [the trip,] the more I thought it would be something I would look back on later and be glad I did it,” Boudreaux said.
Baham said scheduling the trip around family responsibilities was difficult and some, like Boudreaux, moved vacation time to other weeks, in order to participate.
The trip was coordinated through Randy Carruth of IAmAble ministries, in conjunction with the partnership of Louisiana Baptists and Native American Christian churches. True Vine, a church plant, ministers to the Muscogee Creek Indians.
The team gathered for prayer Monday on the bare slab foundation before hammering the first nail in place.
On Friday, with plenty of work still to be done, the team awoke to a 6 a.m. thunderstorm.
“We could have simply packed up and headed home,” said team member Michael James Baham, pastor of Woodhaven Baptist Church in Tickfaw, and Mike Baham’s son.
“I saw men getting up off the gym floor where we slept with the fire of determination in their eyes,” Michael James Baham said. “The unanimous response [to the rain] was, ‘So? We have a building to finish.’”
Keith Palmer, a building supply salesman and member of Woodland Baptist Church in Hammond, said the rain ran off the roof and down his neck as they hung siding.
“It was miserable,” Palmer said. “A good day, but wet and miserable.”
A scaffolding mishap that morning sent two men tumbling to the wet ground. Undeterred, the team kept working until the metal roofing and exterior siding on the sixty-by-forty foot building were complete.
“I cannot describe [the trip] in words,” Mike Baham said. “It was an unbelievable experience to go with a group of guys you [typically] boss around. They saw me break down in tears.”
On the final evening of the trip, church members presented gifts to the builders. Mike Baham was given a “dream-catcher” ornament; another was given a peace pipe. The presentation was moving because some gifts were the church members’ personal possessions, team members reported.
Palmer said Don Tiger, True Vine’s pastor, gave him an arrow and explained that Palmer had been as true to the mission as an arrow flying a straight path.
“I had no idea they would be so appreciative,” Chris Boudreaux said of the congregation’s response.
The Native American Christian church members provided three meals and snacks during the long workdays. One evening, the team joined the small congregation in worship.
Team members stayed at the multipurpose facility of First Baptist Church of Bristow. Baham said the group was amazed at the gracious treatment they received.
Six churches were represented on the team, including Crossbrand Cowboy Church of Loranger, where Baham serves as worship leader. Team member Holand Penton is from Woodhaven Baptist. Other employees participating were Sam Ross, Jeremiah Faust, Mike Boudreaux, and Ricky Baham, Mike Baham’s son.
“This was a God-sized project, not just because of how fast we got it done, but because God used men from several different churches and denominations working side by side,” said Michael James Baham.
Chris Boudreaux said he was glad he went, and that Baham’s willingness to commit time and money in service to others was “awesome.” Boudreaux said Baham was more concerned about his employees receiving a blessing than he was about his own needs.
Baham posted an internet message commending Don Tiger as a man of God and urging others to help the church.
Baham said he learned later that a church in Tennessee had seen his post and committed to help.
The church’s exterior is complete.
The interior is framed out as a worship area with a stage, library and restrooms. Electrical wiring, heating and air conditioning, sheetrock and finishing, are needed.
“God used these men like the army of Gideon,” Michael James Baham said. “It was the best mission experience I have ever been associated with.”