Hundreds volunteer to remodel Jehovah Witness hall in VBT

The Belleville Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses is getting a face-lift.
Hundreds of Witnesses have traveled to the area and have volunteered their skills to renovate this large property on Ecorse Road, west of Haggerty.
Construction began in September and is expected to be completed at the end of December. The building is a center for large religious gatherings of Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the year and offers services in other languages, including American Sign Language.
A notable feature of the renovation is the addition of large screens in the auditorium to display video content that will benefit the deaf community.
“This is a big deal for hundreds of deaf Witnesses and many of our neighbors throughout the Midwest and Atlantic regions who attend our religious services here,” said Shelby Oliver, one of the construction volunteers. Shelby and her husband Blake of West Virginia learned American Sign Language to help deaf individuals understand the Bible.
“To work on a project that will have such a powerful impact in the deaf community is something we had to be a part of,” Blake said.
The majority of the construction projects of Jehovah’s Witnesses are accomplished by non-paid volunteers. Some came to the Van Buren Township site from Texas and California and stayed for weeks or months, until the project is done.
For several years, Blake and Shelby have volunteered their time and skills on many construction projects around the country, but feel that this project was particularly special.
“We have built lasting friendships with our co-workers,” said Blake. “We were all strangers when we first arrived, but when it’s over, we’ll be crying as we say goodbye.”