By Holly Jo Linzay, Regional Correspondent
WOODWORTH –In the truest biblical sense, Cecil Gassiott, a general contractor in Alexandria, is a blessed man because he believes in “giving back,” and his actions show his giving spirit is real.
Gassiott’s generous donation of equipment use and manpower saved multiple thousands of dollars in the construction of the Georgia Barnette Conference Center on the grounds of Tall Timbers in Forest Hill.
Robert Woods, missions’ builder strategist for Louisiana Baptists, said Gassiott’s gracious giving and willingness to serve has made a significant impact.
“Cecil Gassiott has probably saved us more than $150,000 on this project. He has been a godsend,” Woods said. “If we had to get our own volunteers, it would have taken us another three to four more months to complete this job.”
The construction of the 8,400-square-foot center is almost complete, and will be dedicated during the Sept. 27 ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board fall meeting at Tall Timbers.
Even this week Gassiott has had his crew on site finishing up the concrete work, sidewalks and curbing in the asphalt parking lot.
“Over the last month, Cecil has had anywhere from five to six men working 10 to 12 hour days. It’s amazing how he is paying his workers a full salary and not charging us a thing. He has supplied the labor and equipment,” said Woods.
Clifford Doyle and John Hebert share a laugh as construction winds down on the Georgia Barnette Conference Center. Brian Blackwell photo
John Hebert, Louisiana Baptists missions and ministry director, could not agree more. “It would be impossible to put an exact dollar amount on how much Cecil has contributed to this project. He has definitely gone above and beyond what he said he would do and we are truly thankful.”
A resident of Woodworth and a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Woodworth, Gassiott, the owner of Cecil Gassiott Construction LLC, saw an opportunity to work with his close friend Hebert, a classmate at Rapides High School in Lecompte, and another good friend in Sam White, the director at Tall Timbers, but he also recognized God was opening a door to serve and minister.
“God has blessed me all my life and I did not want to miss an opportunity to help, especially since it is in my area of expertise. I’m blessed to be able to help,” Gassiott said.
Construction for the Georgia Barnette Conference Center began during July 2015.
According to Woods, Gassiott became involved a month later when he brought a large crane from Baton Rouge and provided the manpower to lay the trusses for the Center. The crane and the work saved the LBC a sum of more than $75,000. Later, Gassiott and his crew returned to put in drainage and water lines.
“He saved us another $25,000 in supplying the equipment and labor for the work on the drainage and water lines. Cecil said if we needed anything else just let him know,” he added.
Recently, Woods and Hebert were building forms to pour the front sidewalk, and Gassiott happened by. Seeing the two men hard at work, he volunteered himself and his crew to complete the project, including the retaining wall around the prayer garden. He brought in backhoes and boring equipment, and within a week he and his team had finished up the forms and poured the concrete.
Bill Temple, the GBBC’s on-site project coordinator, said Gassiott has been a volunteer of the highest caliber.
“He’s made quite an impact, and we appreciate every minute of time he has given,” Temple said, adding that about 300 volunteers from some 30 different churches have been hard at work for the last year and half building the new center.
Volunteers are still feverishly working on the final touches inside the conference center as they lay ceramic tiles and carpet, finish base boards and install countertops. The granite work in the bathrooms will be finished, and a security system will be installed in time for the dedication ceremony Sept. 27.
“We are still tweaking things, but it is 98 percent completed, and nothing will interfere with the dedication ceremony,” Woods said.
Joyce Temple, wife of Bill, has been on site since the first day the volunteers arrived. She said during the entire time God has provided what was needed exactly when it was needed.
“The Lord knew,” she said. “It’s a calling, and when we are called, we give it our best. The ones who volunteered gave it all they could.
“Some volunteers came every day. Some have been here three to five days at a time,” Temple said, adding that besides going home occasionally on a weekend, she and Bill have been living in their RV at Tall Timbers for the last 17 months working on the center.
“We never anticipated being here this long, when we first started this project,” she added. “But we are God’s workmanship, created in His image for good works which God prepared beforehand. God knew before the project was even started what it would take. It has been a wonderful experience.”
The center is a state-of-the-art missions training facility will curate and display historical information about the leadership of early-day Louisiana Baptists.
The building has a beam-structure foyer, is fully-equipped with technology, and has a versatile conference design for hosting events. The worship center will seat 560 in its open configuration, or can be converted to host 280 in the main hall with 6 conference rooms available.
Outside, a prayer garden with a reflecting pool overlook the lake.
Janie Wise, women’s missions and ministry strategist, said the conference center will serve as a place for missions’ education and missionary training, and also will be a place for children, youth, Royal Ambassadors, girls’ mission groups and others to gather to worship during their camps.
The building of the center, Wise said, continues a legacy of Louisiana Baptist focus on mission training.
The property for Tall Timbers was purchased by WMU in 1954 for $16,000. In 1975, a chapel, named to honor Kathryn Carpenter, the Louisiana WMU executive secretary/director from 1955-1986, was constructed.
In 1981, the Louisiana Baptist WMU became a department of the LBC missions division and ownership of Tall Timbers was transferred to the LBC.
The Louisiana Department of Highways used eminent domain law in 2003 to take a significant part of the campgrounds, including Carpenter Chapel and the manager’s residence.
With the completion of the Georgia Barnette Conference Center, Wise said, a ‘void’ will be filled and once again there will be a “place to learn, teach and worship.”
