STUDENT SPOTLIGHT “Every church is unique and different, no two are the same,” Martin said. “And every church has its own passion and distinct ministry in its community. Our goal is to be a trustworthy source, helping churches align their facilities with their vision in order to reach their community.” “At the end of the day, we know it’s not about the building,” he added. “That’s just a tool being used for ministry. Ultimately, we want what we do and what churches do to have eternal effects and build relationships with people.” Martin said he strives to connect the church congregation atlarge to the church’s building project. “Being raised in a Southern Baptist church all my life, I’ve been part of building programs time after time,” he said. “What I experienced in building programs was, it’s something I gave to, sacrificed for. It was something my family did when I was growing up. … It was never something we were involved or engaged with. We just gave and “I’m doing more ministry than ever, evangelism we were pretty much disconnected on the job site. That’s until it was completed and we used ultimately what God has the building.” called me to do – to use “As a company,” Martin added, the gifts He’s given me “we want to create opportunities to for His glory and to share His name while doing it.” allow the church to be a part of their -ADAM MARTIN project, because it’s not our project. Ultimately, it’s His project.” To help church members connect to the building throughout the construction process, Martin hosts what he calls “Godly Graffiti” days. Once the foundation and structural framing is in place, the congregation is invited out to the site and given permanent markers. “We’ll invite them as a church family, to go through and pray over and write prayers and scripture over the entire site,” Martin said. “That allows the congregation to be a part of the building before it’s even finished.” “Godly Graffiti” days also minister to crews when they arrive to work the next morning as they are able to read the Word of God as they work, Martin said. In addition, Martin hosts project blogs for each church project. Members of the congregation can go online anytime and track the construction progress, see pictures and learn prayer needs. And the ministry focus doesn’t stop with just the congregation. “I try to do regular job site devotions with the crews or I’ll invite the pastor or staff members of the church,” Martin said. “Sometimes the members of the church will cook breakfast or lunch for those meetings as an outreach opportunity.” Projects vary in length and scope, Martin said. Some churches take just a few weeks or months to complete. Others raise money for years before construction can begin. In its two and a half years, the Faith Division of Kent Design Build has completed more than 5 projects and Martin said several more are in the design phase now. He said churches are beginning to see the value of design-build and the way Kent approaches each project. Martin and the Faith Division also helped coordinate construction projects for World Changers in Covington this past summer. Church projects currently underway include a Metairie, La., satellite campus of First Baptist Covington.
PHOTO BY KATIE MARTIN
A member of Eastside Baptist Church in Ponchatoula, La., writes Bible verses and prayers on the studs of their new church facade, built by Kent Construction.
And while he manages church construction projects, Martin is also hard at work in pursuit of a Master of Divinity degree in expository preaching from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Now in his third year of studies, Martin said his work schedule allows him to take six to nine class hours each semester. Martin said it’s tough to juggle work and class, but that the seminary’s diverse class delivery system allows him to maximize his time. “The hybrid classes – I love them,” Martin said. “I’m glad we do a really good job at the seminary to offer those to students like myself.” Martin said that, moving forward, he doesn’t exactly know what “ministry” will look like for him. He still preaches regularly at churches in the area. However, regardless of what happens after graduation, Martin said for now he knows he’s right where God wants him to be and couldn’t see himself anywhere else. “I’m doing more ministry than ever through things like evangelism on the job site,” he said. “That’s ultimately what God has called me to do – to use the gifts He’s given me for His glory and to share His name while doing it.” “After all, that’s what biblical ministry is. For me, God is accomplishing His call on my life through construction,” Martin said. “I’ve learned that biblical ministry doesn’t always have to be within the confines of a church staff.”
Kent Construction built a new facade onto Eastside Baptist Church’s building in Ponchatoula, La., to make it easily identifiable as a church to the surrounding community. PHOTO BY SUSAN LEGER
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FALL 2012 | Vision 11