Friends of the Carpenter

“Wood crafted into a community of Christ”

by the Rev. Duane L. Sich

Church volunteers work together one of their woodcraft activities with homeless guests. Photo by the Rev. Duane L. Sich, program director.

A ministry in Vancouver, Washington, has found a creative and constructive way to connect persons who are homeless (or at risk) with volunteers from faith communities. Friends of the Carpenter is a nonprofit, faith-based ministry that uses woodcraft as a way to create a safe and supervised setting for friendships to be formed. It’s a sanctuary of a different sort — more like the stable in which the Christ-child was born, where shepherds and kings were equally welcome.  Participants (volunteers and homeless) gather in the warehouse (the Friendship Center) to fit and glue wood pieces together. During the woodcraft activity, God’s grace guides and glues new friendships together. As rough edges are sanded from the wood, simple conversations of care, kindness and compassion smooth the way for friendships of encouragement, assistance and accountability to be formed.

The Rev. Duane L. Sich, a Presbyterian pastor, is the founding executive director of this ministry, which began in 1998. Pastor Sich realized that the lack of a genuine relationship was the missing link that prevented those who are homeless to really feel welcome at worship. Equally, the impassioned but impersonal prayers for the poor do not overcome the awkward reluctance for parishioners to invite a stranger to sit with them in the pew. “Sitting at Table” and constructing inspirational woodwork in community breaks down barriers and begins the process of building up the Body of Christ.

Salvage lumber, often discarded due to knotholes or flaws, is the primary woodcraft material.  Simple handiwork transforms flawed wood from firewood into an inspirational testimony.  The saving touch of the “Carpenter from Nazareth” transforms sinner’s flaws into stories of salvation!

Friends of the Carpenter is an ecumenical ministry made up of many faith traditions. This broadens the welcome by offering a variety of forms of worship and church families. Because many churches are involved, just a handful of volunteers from each church amass an army of welcomers and workers who become the leaven returning to each congregation with stories of grace and new friends “in hand” to fit into the church family. Currently, 40 local congregations (including five local Presbyterian churches) send volunteers, financial support and prayers that undergird the mission and operation of this ministry. Mission funds have also been received from the Presbytery of the Cascades. Beyond our community, congregations from across the country order handmade crosses and craft items for gifts and awards to confirmation students and graduates and also appreciation gifts for officers and volunteers.

Learn more about this ministry, order woodcraft or find out how to begin a Friends of the Carpenter ministry in your community — visit the Web site or call (360) 750-4752.