| David
and Barbara Griffin witness as they
work
by Jennifer L. Krempin | Photography by Tim Nauman
 A quiet, relaxing retirement? Not for the Griffins. David’s hard-fought recovery from a debilitating back injury inspired the couple to spend their golden years helping others. And they’ve been hammering home Christian values in communities across the country ever since.
Placing a phone call to David and Barbara Griffin is a little like calling a 1960s college dormitory: There’s one “party line” telephone serving a dozen or so adults, and you never know who will pick up the receiver. At a time when many retired couples dream of serene lakeside homes and a life of leisure, the Griffins are happy just to claim a few uninterrupted minutes on the telephone line they share with other volunteers in the middle of a busy, dusty construction site in McPherson, Kansas.
Since 1999, the Griffins have given up a comfortable retirement and traveled across the country in their RV, slowing down only when the cold winter months draw them back to their Natoma, Kansas, home for a few weeks at a time.
The couple is one of hundreds of members of Laborers for Christ, a program of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) that sends volunteers to provide labor and expertise to support congregations with their building projects. Since they first hit the road five years ago, the Griffins have participated in eight missions: Edgewood, New Mexico; Coopersville, Michigan; Bremen, Indiana; Johnstown, Colorado; and Farmington, New Mexico, to name a few.
They say they enjoy the travel, the adventure and the opportunity to make a difference. But most important, they consider their work with Laborers for Christ a true calling. “It’s so appealing to do something for the Lord,” Barbara says.
What Led to the Leap?
The Griffins’ leap of faith first took root in 1996 in Eagle, Colorado. At the time, David, a former rancher, hauled lumber for a retail yard and Barbara worked in property management. Seeking a brief respite from the hard work and long hours, the couple took their trailer for what was supposed to have been a three-day vacation—but something went terribly wrong.
“As I [looked over my shoulder] to back into a parking spot, something immediately went wrong with my back,” David recalls. He found himself in the hospital, and then on a leave of absence from work for weeks. “The doctor told me I could go back to work on a Friday, but by Sunday I was back in the hospital.”
David’s recovery was slow and grueling, to the point where he even had to relearn how to walk. Forced into retirement, it seemed certain that David’s golden years would be lived in the shadow of this serious disability. But clearly, he says, the Lord had other plans.
The Griffins’ hometown church was undergoing a significant remodeling project and they befriended the architect, who had some experience with Laborers for Christ. “It always sounded like a neat thing to do,” David says. “And when the Lord restored my health, we decided to do it. Just like that.”
David’s back has been holding up ever since. “When I went to my first assignment, I wasn’t even sure I would stand up under all the work,” he recalls. “But the Lord has given me the strength to do it ever since.”
Laborers for Christ
Laborers for Christ coordinators typically post volunteer opportunities on the organization’s Web site, and families like the Griffins sign up for the job they’d like to assist with. Some look for opportunities in states they’ve never traveled to or places located closer to kids and grandkids; some, like the Griffins, just go where the Spirit moves them.
Sometimes they arrive on a construction site and don’t know a single soul. Other times they pull into town in the RV and realize they will be working with old friends from past projects. “It’s possible for some to work on as many as 40 projects in a year’s time,” David
explains. “All that’s needed is a willingness to work and a willingness to learn.”
On this particular chilly evening, the Griffins are entering their sixth week on assignment at Grace Lutheran Church in McPherson, Kansas—not that
anyone is really counting. “We just stay until the job is done,” explains David.
While projects often remain on schedule, they sometimes don’t. During one fall project in New Mexico a few years ago, the Griffins assumed they’d be back in Kansas to celebrate Christmas with their family: three grown children, 11 grandchildren and a great-grandson, all of whom live in either Colorado or Kansas. “But we didn’t finish until the end of April!” David explains, laughing heartily.
In McPherson, David fills the role of project manager: supervising the volunteers, coordinating the supplies and managing the construction of a 4,000-square-foot addition that will leave Grace Lutheran Church with a new fellowship hall, narthex, kitchen and restrooms.
While the men pound nails all day, the women (who proudly call themselves “Laborers’ Wives”) are equally busy attending to the needs of the church and to their community of fellow volunteers. This might mean teaching a Vacation Bible School class, preparing afternoon snacks to bring to the construction site, leading devotions or dashing off a quick e-mail to the kids and grandkids.
“We have all the typical household duties to do, like washing clothes and cooking,” Barbara says. “And of course we all have projects we like to do, like sewing or scrapbooking. Our days are never long enough, either.”
Working and Witnessing
The couple says they are doing much more than building churches; they are sharing their love of the Lord. “Much of the town knows about our work here, even if we don’t know them personally,” David explains. “Being part of this work and being a witness makes you feel good. We love working with Christian people for Christian people. Ultimately, we’re here to serve others.”
This was illustrated recently when Barbara joined a women’s gym in McPherson, signing up for only a one-month membership because of their temporary living arrangement. The owner urged her to think about staying longer. “You don’t know this,” the clerk told her, “but you’re such a witness to the other ladies at the gym whenever you’re here.”
The Griffins plan to continue this way of life until they can no longer do it. “We’ll keep doing this,” David says emphatically, “until the Lord calls us home!”
Jennifer Krempin is a Twin Cities–based freelance writer whose work has appeared in previous issues of Thrivent magazine.
Laborers for Christ: Fast Facts
When the Laborers arrive on a site, the foundation has usually been poured. The Laborers are responsible for everything from framing to painting. Subcontractors are hired for the more complex parts of the job.
Each church commissioning a project pays each Laborer minimum wage plus $1.50 per square foot to the Laborers for Christ program. The churches also are responsible for housing the volunteers. Because, like the Griffins, many travel in their own RV, the congregation provides the cost of RV parking.
Funding comes from gifts/donations, as well as from Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod sponsorship.
—J.K.
Are You Ready to Leap?
If you’re contemplating making a big change in your life, the following questions can help you with the soul-searching process. But beyond prayer and introspection, talking with a trusted friend, family member or pastor also can help you weigh your options.
1. When I envision what I really want for my life, what do I see?
2. How closely does my current existence match up with my answer to the previous question?
3. What matters most to me at this point in my life?
4. If I make a big life change, who will be directly affected? What impact would the change have on those relationships?
5. What am I afraid of?
6. What do I stand to gain from this change? How might this change benefit others?
7. How would this change enhance my faith and reflect my values?
8. How do I see my life in five years if I make the change?
9. How do I see my life in five years if I do not make the change?
10. What additional guidance would make me feel more comfortable about making the change?
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