Build the Barn!

April 19, 2017
Todd Wilson
Article, Blog
0 Comments

Hey Dad,

For the last 15 years, Familyman Ministries has operated out of our garage. I built the shelves that

store the books, games, shirts, CDs, calendars, and all the other stuff we offer dads and families. The garage also serves as our assembly line where games and calendars are produced, as well as an office for shipping orders.

Up until a year or two ago, it’s worked out fine…but now because of the amount of products we produce AND the overlap of family projects…our garage is packed to the gills, dust covers everything, and we’re about to lose our minds in the volume.

So here’s the plan: We’re hoping to construct a pole barn on our property to serve as an office/warehouse for Familyman Ministries, a spot to house the Familyman Mobile, and room for expansion and future ideas and development (plan below)

But, I need your help. We’ve started trying to save money for this…but I don’t think we can do it alone. We need the familyman team to help us Build the Barn!! As it stands now the total project will cost about $50,000 (yep, that’s a lot of money). We plan to do it in phases as the money comes in.

Would you consider helping us build the barn and more effectively reach and encourage more dads? We’ve set up a gofundme site to take donations. If you donate, I’ll put your name on a big banner (see below) and fasten it to the wall of the barn to serve as a reminder to all who see it (including me) that it took a bunch of dads to build the barn.

Talk it over with your wife and then check out the site.

Thanks for being on the team; it means a lot to me,

Day Seven Barn building

Nothing happening today except the gas line was laid and Cal (11) and Jed (9) are now filling in the 100′ long and 2′ deep trench by hand. they’re awesome…and I think they’re gonna do it (with some $ motivation).

Day Six Barn Building

Today a bunch of the guys showed up…and got a ton done. Got all the windows placed, both doors in and windows cut out, and all the siding except the front is finished. The plumbing guys came in and roughed in the plumbing for a future bathroom and RV dump (I may have to await a year or two to use it…but it looks awesome). That night the boys and I installed all the ceiling light boxes and finished up the wires to them. Tomorrow they’ll put in the ceiling and blow in the insulation on top of it. I should then be able to get the lights installed but will still be waiting for power. I still feel overwhelmed by it all…but am glad they were able to work on it before we leave for the month of October.

Dad, I feel overwhelmed that many of you have given to make this possible. It feels way too nice for us and I’m trying not to get to excited about the idea of have some order back in our life and ministry. So Thanks for begin part of this. I do not take it or YOU for granted.

Day Five Barn Building

Today I had to take Abe to the orthodontist so I wasn’t here to see a two man crew set in two doors or finish up the outside of the Familyman Mobile Hanger. It looks good…and is proceeding along nicely. I think someone is coming tomorrow to rough in the floor plumbing.

Day Four Barn Building

No pictures today because not much has changed. I did get out my long ladder and Abe (16), Ike (18), and I ran some wires in the high ceiling for lighting and some ceiling fans. I needed to get it done before they enclose the high ceiling and blow in insulation. My boys were climbing around the rafters and the framing like old fashion Iron Monkeys…I guess that would my them Timber Monkeys. Tomorrow a couple of guys are supposed to show up to continue framing in and putting up siding.

Day Three Barn Building!!

Yeah doggy, these guys are good. Today they got the metal roof on, a few windows framed in, the RV sliding door hardware attached, and the “in between wall” done that goes between RV section and storage section. Wow…it looks great we just remembered we need to run some wires for lights before the put in the high ceiling and insulation.

Day Two Barn Building!!

They’ve got the sides framed in and the big roof trusses all done. man, they are fast. they even took a shot at one of our groundhogs. Talk about your full service provider!! By the way the builders are Pacemaker Buildings.

this part of the building is the storage part. It will eventually (next year or two) have a second floor.

Day ONE Barn Building!!

First day was amazing…they set all the posts!!! I asked Sam (22), “So how much would we have gotten done today? “Oh, maybe three posts,” he answered, “But they’d be crooked.”