Schafer eagerly tearing down to build up H15
At one time these cardboard boxes represented the layout for a future cafe at H15 Teen Ministries in Millersburg. With major progress being made on the renovation of the west building during phase two, the actual furniture of the cafe will at some point be placed in the building as Director Andy Schafer continues the demolition portion of the renovation process.
It may not be bringing down the walls of Jericho, but Andy Schafer is doing his best to bring down his own unique structure.
Many times Schafer, director at H15 Ministries in Millersburg, has requested prayer as he continues to tear down and rebuild the dilapidated buildings that have already seen a great deal of renovation, allowing teens to gather in a safe, faith-based environment.
Recently, he said he saw those prayers in action as he tore down rotting beams and ceiling section of the western part of the facility.
“I had reached the point where there was a large section that was just the ceiling rafters and the supporting beams left to bring down,” Schafer said after cutting the rafters at one end and letting them drop out of the ceiling. “It was really cool to see the room opening up quickly like that.”
Once he finished getting the rafters out, all that was left standing was the beam structure.
“The plan was to support that beam, then cut it on the left end and pull it out of the connection with the upright and the other two beams,” Schafer said. “It seemed simple enough.”
Schafer made the necessary cuts successfully, and it was time to pull the large beam out.
“My assumption was that it would slip apart because most of what I had seen up to this point was loose joints that came apart easily and rotted wood that broke pretty easily as well,” he said.
However, just as in life, things don’t always go as planned, regardless of how simplistic they may seem.
Schafer hooked a chain to the beam and began to pull from a safe distance. As it came loose, he was braced for a pretty big crash as it fell, but instead of just the one beam coming down, the post and a large beam on the right came down as well.
“The crash was pretty spectacular, and in the second or so it took for them to fall, I was picturing the floor giving way under the weight and a ton of resulting carnage,” Schafer said. “However, as I said, God was listening to prayers and watched over me.”
The beams fell, coming apart easily right where Schafer had expected the first one to come out, and they crashed down on the floor and laid there perfectly safe.
“Nothing else fell, and the only thing that didn’t survive was my old, rickety aluminum ladder that I think God knew I needed to quit using anyway,” he said.
When the dust cleared, the large expanse was now vacant of all the former old wood, and Schafer said he could begin to envision a new, more glorious room filled with happy teens.
He said as he worked on cleaning up the debris and getting stuff ready to haul away, he thought about the fact this whole demolition process had come with a relatively high degree of danger considering the condition of the structure.
“What had just happened showed me that God was watching over me, but how many times have I been completely unaware that God kept something from happening that would have caused injury or damage to the buildings?” Schafer said. “When we started this ministry, it was with the understanding that this was 100% God’s and that we had to be trusting him with everything. I’m more convinced of that than ever.
“I have told many people that I believe that the only reason that building was still standing was because God has been literally holding it up for us until we could get to this point of being able to tear it down. Over the years there have been a number of times that it was obvious that God protected us, and I’m sure that for each one we know about, there are many more that we don’t know about.”
He said he thinks often of the teens God has brought into this ministry and how God has been present throughout.
Schafer said he has never felt qualified for this job that God called him to. However, just as God has been providing protection during the rebuilding process, he is working in many other ways.
“We keep watching God working in the lives of the teens, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is the one doing the work and not us,” Schafer said.
The construction work propels H15 toward opening another portion of its ministry, something that excites everyone involved.
“It is really cool to see that big room taking shape,” Schafer said. “Of course, there is a lot left to do, and I ask that everyone continues to pray for safety for us.”
Schafer said there is only about 15 feet of the old roof and ceiling left, and he can’t wait to move to the next step.
“Hopefully, in the next few months, we’ll be thinking about starting some new work,” he said.