HARROGATE, Tenn. — A local church that had trouble getting funds to complete its new building got some extra help last week from a mission group. The Tennessee Baptist Bricklayers for Christ sent a team of volunteer brick masons last Monday to Indian Creek Baptist Church in Harrogate, Tenn. to finish construction on a new church.

Church member Greg Pendleton was thankful for the help.

“They’re a godsend,” said Pendleton, who helped work on the scaffolding outside the church last week.

Another member at the church said they just didn’t have the money to finish construction on the new building. All it lacked was the brick.

“I think it’s wonderful they’re doing that,” said Debbie Campbell, who teaches Sunday school at the church.

One of the brick masons said their help was just part of God’s plan.

“We just feel like the good Lord gave us a trade that we should be sharing,” said Charles Mitchell, a professional mason who volunteers with the bricklayer organization. “The churches that go out on faith, that really haven’t got the resources to build, have to rely on free labor. That way they can do what they feel like God is telling them to do.”

Most of the 11 brick masons actually came from Texas and are retired professional bricklayers. One of the brick masons said they would go wherever the organization needed them to go — not just in Tennessee. They even finance the trips themselves.

“We pay our way,” said Mitchell. “Most of the time, the churches furnish our food. But a lot of times, we just all chip in $10 to $15 a piece and they cook the meal for us.”

Mitchell said a project like the one at Indian Creek Baptist Church would have cost the church around $20,000 to finance.

Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.