Temple church believes God used adversity to build renewed sense of unity_82304

Posted: 8/20/04

Temple church believes God used
adversity to build renewed sense of unity

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

TEMPLE–Eighteen months ago, Memorial Baptist Church of Temple was rocked to its foundation by a Valentine's Day bus accident that took the lives of several of the congregation's most devoted members.

But that foundation is faith in Christ, and it has since provided a launching pad for unity, ministry and growth, said Pastor Roy Parker.

Following the accident, the congregation has come together in a unity that cannot be matched in many churches, Parker said. Members clung to each other and their faith to pull them through the pain, some of which continues today.

The outpouring of concern and prayer from Christians worldwide strengthened the congregation, the pastor said. God's Spirit brought the church together as never before.

“The power and presence of God was absolutely phenomenal,” he said.

The congregation felt a need to find facilities that would better suit its needs and size and voted to move from the site it used more than 50 years.

The church voted to use $1.1 million left by a deceased former member in conjunction with the congregation's United We Build fund-raising drive. Several church members made substantial contributions toward a project totaling more than $4 million.

Still, the church was slightly short on funding but remained committed to moving into the new building debt free, Parker said. During one of the last business meetings about the effort, a member stood and pledged $500 beyond what he already had promised and urged others to do so as well. Shortly after, several members donated large gifts to the project.

The congregation further pledged to raise the remaining $300,000 needed to complete the project. By mid-July, the church had raised $100,000.

In 2003, the congregation handed the older facility's keys to a Grace Temple Ministries, an African-American church. Memorial staff led the first half of a Sunday morning worship service before turning it over to leaders of the new church–symbolically starting a new chapter for both ministries. Grace Temple recently sponsored a block party that attracted more than 500 people.

“We were hoping and praying that it would continue to be a lighthouse” in the community, Parker said. “And it is.”

As they await their new building, Memorial members worship in an elementary school on Sunday mornings and use the facilities of Meadow Oak Baptist Church for Thursday and Sunday night activities. Through it all, Parker has not heard a “single negative comment.”

“The spirit of the people is tremendous,” he said.

The happenings at the church serve as continuous reminders of the greatness of God, Parker said. As the congregation moves toward its new facilities on a hill along the south side of town, the pastor looks for the congregation to continue glorifying God's name.

“From the time of the terrible bus tragedy on Feb. 14, 2003, when eight people lost their lives and over 30 were injured up to this very day and for all the days to come, the people across this area have seen and will continue to see the graciousness of the Almighty God to this beloved church,” he said.