This fall, our church gained a wonderful new addition to our campus. Vova, a member of our youth, built a brand-new deck as his Eagle Scout project. What started as an idea to serve his church family grew into months of planning, fundraising, teamwork, and a whole lot of determination.
The deck sits in a quiet spot on the back acreage of the church at the edge of the pond, and we can already imagine how it might be used in the months and years ahead: small group gatherings, vow renewals, teen campfires, or simply a peaceful place to sit outside and enjoy God’s creation. It’s a gift that will keep giving, and we’re so blessed by the young man who brought it to life.
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We asked him to share more about his experience. Here’s what he had to say:
Q & A With VOVA
Q: What inspired you to choose this project for your Eagle Scout requirement, and why was serving the church important to you?
A: At the start of choosing a project, I knew I would help the church. I decided to choose to build a deck because I knew that this project would create the greatest impact for our church at this time.
Q: How did you envision this deck being used when you first proposed the idea?
A: When I first envisioned the deck, I wanted to build a structure over it. This was a great idea, but it ended up being unrealistic because it was too expensive. I have talked to people in the church, like Roger Burgett, and they said the church might do something like that.
Q: What steps did you take to plan the project, from design to gathering materials to organizing volunteers?
A: First, Mr. Charlie and I designed the deck. This took a pretty long time, and Mr. Charlie designed most of it. After that, I needed to put together a group of volunteers to gather materials and load them into a trailer to take them to the church. From there, the church put in the posts and anchored them with concrete. After that, I got a group of people, and we built the deck. The actual project building took 2 weeks.
Q: Were there any unexpected challenges during the building process? How did you overcome them?
A: There were a few unexpected challenges during the construction of the deck, but the most significant one was finding out we ran out of screws while putting in the fascia boards. During the planning portion, I made sure to have enough materials, but I'm guessing someone took them home by accident. Someone ended up running over to Lowe's and picking up some decking screws.
Q: Who helped or encouraged you most during the project?
A: I think that the church members encouraged me the most during the project. Before we started, a ton of church members told me that they were looking forward to this project being built and seeing the project completed. During the project, a few people came to see the project being made, like Pastor Rita. Pastor Rita was an amazing help because she helped serve lunch and gave a lot of support throughout the entire process.
Q: Did working on this project teach you anything about leadership, patience, teamwork, or faith?
A: This project taught me a lot. Leadership and patience were some of the big ones, teamwork as well, but faith seems unexpected. This project helped me with both mental faith and spiritual faith. It taught me to put faith in my friends to accomplish a task like this, as well as teaching me that if I can direct people to make a project like this, I could most definitely lead people to God.
Q: In what ways do you feel this project strengthened your connection to the church community?
A: I think that this project strengthened my connection to the church community by adding something that can be used now and in the years to come. This project can be used for so many activities, and because I built it, I feel like more people in the church community can see what younger people are capable of doing.
Q: How do you hope the church will use this new deck?
A: I would like the church to use this deck for some of their activities like during teen campfire nights and easter gatherings. One of the reasons I wanted to do a project behind the church is so that more people can use this area. There is so much stuff you can do back there.
Q: What does it mean to you personally to know your work will be part of the church campus for years to come?
A: I am very happy to know that something I helped with will be with the church for a very long time. I think my deck will make a nice addition to the church, and I think a lot of people will enjoy it.
Q: Looking back, what part of the project are you most proud of?
A: One of the things that I am proud of, yet not well known, was getting a large portion of this project donated. This was a very expensive project, and I needed to either raise a large sum of money or get a donation from a company like Lowe's. I ended up trying to get what I could from Lowe's, and they covered a large portion of the project. I am most proud of this accomplishment because I was able to get so much for a project that I hope will benefit the church a lot.
Q: What would you say to younger Scouts or church youth who may want to take on a big project of their own someday?
A: Pick something you’re genuinely excited to build, and make sure it actually helps people. For me, the deck wasn’t just a project; it felt like the right move because it could really make a difference. I had other ideas floating around, sure, but the deck stood out. It was the one that actually mattered, and I’m glad I chose it.
Q: Now that your Eagle Scout project is complete, what’s next for you?
A: Now that my project is completed, all I have left to get my Eagle is to do a lot of paperwork. Churchwise, I don't have to do anything, but the church will most likely add to the deck.
Looking Ahead With Gratitude
We’re so thankful for this project—not just the deck itself, but the heart behind it. It’s encouraging to see a young person take on something big, stick with it, and bless the whole church in the process.
As we start using this space for gatherings, celebrations, and quiet moments with the Lord, we’ll be reminded that God works through all ages and gifts within our church family. This deck is a beautiful example of that, and we’re excited to see how it brings people together for years to come.
