Representatives from Men on Mission raise the steeple for the First Baptist Church of Ossian Wednesday. About 85 to 90 volunteers from Alabama, Delaware, Mississippi and Missouri have been assisting the church in remodeling and adding on to the sanctuary. The church had outgrown its current sanctuary, Pastor Matthew Gullion said. “We are averaging 130 to 140 people in a sanctuary that seats 100. We desperately needed more classroom and multi-purposes spaces. This will give us a sanctuary that will seat 250 to 275.” Plans are for construction to be 90 percent complete by the end of the week when the next group of volunteers — the Mississippi Nail Benders — will come in and assist in completing the project. Grand opening is set for Sunday, Aug. 14. Gullion added that Men on Mission also assisted the Ossian area community with cleanup following Monday’s derecho. “They’re just a great group of people doing a great job in this community,” he said. (Photo by Glen Werling)
