Pendleton church rebounds from disaster

Posted: 10/13/06

High winds destroyed the framework for Pendleton Baptist Church. At right, Pendleton Baptist Church begins to rebuild.

Pendleton church rebounds from disaster

By George Henson

Staff Writer

PENDLETON—Pendleton Baptist Church has rebounded quickly after high winds recently blew down the framework of what would have been the congregation’s first building, but Pastor Tom Adams acknowledged the event took the wind out of his sails.

“It didn’t bother me on Saturday when I went out there to see it right after it happened, and it didn’t bother me on Sunday when we had a really good worship service. But on Monday, when we took it back down to the foundation—that bothered me a bit,” he admitted.

The 2,800-square-foot structure had the walls and trusses up before the winds brought it all crashing into a heap. Adams estimates the event cost the church about $16,000, and it was not insured.

“We have insurance now, but I guess the cow’s already out of the barn,” he said.

Still, Adams and his congregation are looking to the future with great expectation.

“It’s a trial and a speed bump, but we’re just going to get on with it,” he said, matter-of-factly.

One of the most gratifying aspects of the ordeal has been the way other churches and individuals have helped with the building project—both times.

The church building’s collapse also grabbed the attention of the community, even people not among the church’s 48 members.

“It’s pulled the whole community together,” Adams said. “They’ve been watching us all along, because this little community hasn’t had a church in 40 or 50 years, so this is the greatest thing for this little community since sliced bread.”

Adams came from Oregon in April 2003. Since starting the church, it has met in a three-bedroom home.

The congregation hopes to move into a new building by the end of the year—not for their own comfort, but because the education rooms and larger auditorium will enable them to reach more people in the community.

“I have a determination to make the church the center of the community like it was years ago,” Adams said.

Plans also include adding a basketball pavilion, a community center where groups can gather.

Adams also wants to be sure an underground shelter is incorporated so residents will have a place to escape the tornados prevalent in the area.

“I think if we make it available, people will use it. They can say ‘We’re meeting at the church,’ and everybody will know where it is.

“They can get comfortable there, and maybe it will lead to people coming to know Christ, which is the whole reason for us being here,” he said.