TALLADEGA — A group of more than 100 Carpenters for Christ has arrived in Talladega and begun both of the major projects they will be undertaking here, including a new brick building for the Whosoever Will Men’s Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church and an environmental center for the TOP Trails Park. They will also be handling some improvements to the church itself.

Perry Lee of Mendenhall, Miss., has been working with Carpenters for Christ for nine years. He is handling the framing and trussing for the Sunday school building.

“I get a lot of blessings from doing this,” he said, indicating the new building. “We build church buildings for congregations all over the country. We rebuilt one near my hometown in Mississippi not too long ago that had been blown down by a tornado.”

Lee said he had enjoyed his stay in Talladega so far. “Everyone has been very hospitable; the food and the accommodations have been good. I’ve really enjoyed my time here.”

Dennis Mayne of Ohatchee didn’t have quite as far to travel, but he has been involved with Carpenters for Christ since the organization began 30 years ago.

“I haven’t worked on all the projects we’ve done during that time, but I’ve been there for a bunch of them,” he said.

Grover Alverson, a Talladega native currently living in Ashland, has been doing this for 29 years, and has become close with several other members, including Mayne.

“A lot of it is the fellowship, the camaraderie,” Mayne said, “just getting to spend time and work with our brothers in Christ. I’m a professional brick mason, so I could do what I’m doing at home anytime I want. But doing this every year, it’s more like a family reunion. There are a lot of people we don’t ever get to see other than at these events.”

“People don’t know we’re being kind of selfish,” Alverson agreed. “We’re at least as blessed with each other’s company as the people we’re here to help.

Mayne said that for several years he has been bringing his son, now 26, to projects with him. “It was a great way for me to show him that Christian men can get together and have some good, clean fun while working together for a common purpose.”

The new Sunday school building will be a 40 by 60 foot brick building with a four-foot fireplace at one end and a kitchen at the other.

The men are staying at Alabama School for the Deaf and preparing their own food at an Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind kitchen, with AIDB supervision.

The Sunday school class provided the materials, but the building will be open for other church members when not being used by the class.

Although the Carpenters have taken on other projects in Alabama, including one in Sylacauga, this is their first in Talladega.

Contact Chris Norwood at cnorwood@dailyhome.com.