Picture an apprentice carpenter first taking a planing tool into his hands, approaching a rough piece of wood, and taking an awkward first stroke in an attempt to bring a smooth finish to it. Now imagine that a master carpenter comes alongside, takes the hands of the apprentice into his own, and provides guidance to the apprentice as he or she develops the feel, the pressure and the right "touch" for the job. At the point where the apprentice is stepping out to do the work on his own, the hands of the master continue to be there to help.

The Carpenter's Hands is the name given to the spiritual and ministry support function of The Carpenter's Apprentices. Currently in the conception phase, The Carpenter's Hands will eventually provide a variety of support needs for ministries affiliated with The Carpenter's Apprentices:

1. Spiritual and financial support structures for newly-established affiliated ministries, whether a team of fivefold ministers planting a Carpenter's Table or an individual minister called to "go it alone".
2. Retreat centers both for actively affiliated ministries and for retreats associated with discipleship training in The Carpenter's Workshops.
3. Production of printed materials for The Carpenter's Apprentices, The Carpenter's Workshops, and The Carpenter's Tables. The Carpenter's Hands will also serve as a distribution center for material resources to newly-planted ministries.
4. Responsibility for technical needs of The Carpenter's Apprentices such as website development, maintenance and connectivity for the Apprentice community.

The Carpenter's Hands is not expected to be fully developed and operational until 2009 at the earliest.