Raising a Church in the Heartland: Faith and Teamwork in Hamburg, Ohio
Written by Corey A. Thrush
Church raising is an incredible event, the moment a whole community comes together around one goal. Any time neighbors rally for a cause it’s a great feeling, but it’s an inspiration when a congregation comes together for a purpose they believe was placed in front of them by a higher power.
In the heartland, in a little town named Hamburg, Ohio, that’s exactly what happened. Members of the German Baptist New Conference, many of them contractors and carpenters themselves, came together to build a 12,000 square foot church in the middle of the countryside.
The Pleasant View Church framed and standing at sunset.
A Church Raising in Three Days
From the time the slab was laid, the shell of the building was raised within three days. More than 50 men and boys, some as young as seven, took part in the construction, while the women cared for the children too young to swing a hammer and prepared the daily meals for everyone on site.
Daylight to dark, day after day, the members came together with a common goal and a smile on their faces, ready to serve the Lord. Nobody needed a pep talk. Everyone knew why they were there.
A church raising like this doesn’t happen by accident. Lumber was ordered and staged, tools were sharpened, crews were assigned, and the meals were planned long before the first wall went up. The speed everyone saw was the result of preparation nobody saw.
Some readers may not be familiar with the German Baptist Brethren. For those of us who live and work in southwest Ohio, they are part of everyday life: neighbors, customers, and fellow tradespeople. No, they are not Amish, and they are not Mennonite. They are German Baptist.
That kind of teamwork is something we recognize. It’s the same spirit behind our crews, and it’s why we wrote about throwing the competition off the roof: quality comes from people who show up together and do it right.
How a Church Raising Comes Together, Day by Day
Tap each day to raise the frame. Every church raising follows the same order a good home project does: foundation first, then structure, then the roof that protects it all.
Slab day
The concrete slab is poured and cured. Every line on it is checked, because everything that follows sits on this.
Day 1: walls up
Wall sections are framed flat on the slab and lifted into place by many hands at once, then braced plumb.
Day 2: trusses
Roof trusses go up one by one and are tied together. Older hands guide, younger hands carry and fetch.
Day 3: the shell
Sheathing and roof deck close in the building. By sundown the shell of a 12,000 square foot church stands in the field.
What stands out about a church raising is the order of operations. Nobody nails trusses before the walls are plumb, and nobody shingles before the deck is tight. Every step checks the one before it. That’s the same discipline a quality roof or siding job needs: inspect, plan, prepare, then build, and never skip a step to save an afternoon.
It’s also why a church raising can move so fast without cutting corners. Speed comes from preparation and teamwork, not from rushing. When a contractor promises a fast job, ask what the plan looks like behind it.
Who Are the German Baptist Brethren?
The Brethren are a plain Anabaptist church with deep Miami Valley roots. Members of the Old German Baptist Brethren dress plainly, practice nonresistance, and keep televisions and radios out of their homes. The New Conference shares that heritage.
- 1708Schwarzenau, GermanyEight believers led by Alexander Mack found the Brethren movement.
- 1881Ohio’s Miami ValleyConservative Brethren from the Miami River Valley form the Old German Baptist Brethren.
- 2009Troy, OhioAfter a division, members meet in Troy and organize the Old German Baptist Brethren, New Conference.
Yes, that’s Troy, Ohio, where our Troy office sits on the Public Square. The New Conference was organized there in July 2009. Seeing one of its congregations hold a church raising not far from our own offices was a reminder of how closely our communities are woven together.
Choosing Siding for the Pleasant View Church
When it came time to raise the Pleasant View Church, there were no shortcuts. Just as they believe in life, there is only one way, and that is the correct way. They may live more simply than most of us, without the daily distraction of television and social media, but they appreciate and respect quality that lasts.
When Dennis, one of the church elders, came to W. Allen Thrush in Brookville, he knew Allen wouldn’t take any shortcuts either, and that he’d give a straight opinion on the exterior products available. The two sat down and walked through the siding options for the new church.
- What it isA cellular composite siding, not traditional vinyl, built to look like painted wood.
- The jointsPatented interlocking seams designed to keep moisture out and nearly eliminate visible seams.
- The finishA fade-resistant Kynar Aquatec coating, so there is no repainting schedule.
- The paperworkA limited lifetime warranty plus 25-year color protection, per the manufacturer.
Sources: the Celect product brochure and Westlake Royal’s product announcement. Allen compared it with wood-look options like fiber cement, and the decision was made. Royal Celect it was! A church raising builds for generations, so the siding had to look right on day one and still look right decades later.
4 Church Raising Lessons for Your Home
Pick a number on the hymn board. Each one is a church raising lesson the congregation taught us, and each one applies to a roof, siding, or window project just as well.
Pour the slab first
Every church raising starts with a level, square foundation. For your home, that means a real inspection and a written plan before anyone orders material.
Many hands, one plan
Fifty people can work fast only when everyone knows the plan. The right crew has a project lead, a schedule, and clear roles.
Materials matter
Dennis didn’t pick siding by price alone. He asked how it would look, how it would last, and what it would need from the congregation later.
No shortcuts
The congregation believes there is one way to do the work: the correct way. That is the standard we hold every crew to.
A Family Company Since 1960
Wilbur Thrush started Thrush & Son in 1960. W. Allen Thrush owns the company today, and Corey Thrush is the third generation. More than 31,000 homeowners have trusted us from Brookville, Troy, and Lebanon. Read 65 years strong, meet us in who we are, and see why choosing the right company matters.
A church raising and a family business have something in common: both depend on people who keep their word. Our name is on every job, and we want the next generation to be proud of what they find when they drive by.
We serve Miami, Montgomery, Greene, and Warren counties with roofing, siding, windows, doors, and gutters. Browse the project gallery, read homeowner reviews, or check our BBB profile.
Church Raising: Your Questions, Answered
What is a church raising?
A church raising is when a congregation builds its own church together, much like a traditional barn raising. Members supply the labor, skilled carpenters lead the work, and the frame goes up in days instead of months.
Who are the German Baptist Brethren?
They are a plain Anabaptist church in the Schwarzenau Brethren tradition that dates to 1708. They are not Amish and not Mennonite. The New Conference was organized in Troy, Ohio, in 2009.
How fast did the Pleasant View Church go up?
Once the slab was in, the shell of the 12,000 square foot building was raised in three days by more than 50 men and boys.
What siding was chosen for the church?
After comparing options with W. Allen Thrush, the elders chose Royal Celect, a cellular composite siding with interlocking joints and a factory finish. See the Celect brochure for the manufacturer’s details.
Is Celect the same as vinyl siding?
No. Celect is a cellular composite product that is thicker and more rigid than standard vinyl, and it is designed to look like painted wood.
What can homeowners learn from a church raising?
Start with a solid plan, hire a crew that works as one team, choose materials for the long run, and never accept shortcuts.
Does Thrush & Son still install siding?
Yes. Visit our siding replacement page or our Exterior Design Center to compare today’s options in person.
Build Something That Lasts
Whether it’s a church, a farmhouse, or a home on a quiet street, we bring the same no-shortcuts standard. Meet us at your home or in our Exterior Design Center for a written estimate with the products, scope, and warranty spelled out. Ask about financing.
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