Deena Weston said it’s amazing to see the parking lot of Cloverdale Baptist Church on Sundays these days — it’s full, even overflowing, which is different from how it was in 2016 when she joined the church.
But the parking lot is full with an unexpected kind of growth. The Montgomery church currently hosts three congregations holding services on Sunday mornings, plus another on Fridays.
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And now Cloverdale Baptist is in the process of selling its building to one of those groups — Wesley Church, a Global Methodist congregation.
“They started out as a group of about 100 people and have grown to over 500,” said Weston, administrator for Cloverdale Baptist. “At the end of last year, they came to our deacons and trustees and asked, ‘Would you consider letting us appraise this property and consider selling it to us?’”
Song, praise and testimony
The Cloverdale congregation — now about 20 members — decided they would, and now they’re waiting on a date to wrap up the sale of the property they’ve met on for more than 80 years. They’re planning a special service for Aug. 17 at 11 a.m. to celebrate all God has done over the years in that building.
“It will be a song, praise and testimony service,” Weston said. “We’re inviting former pastors, former ministers and anyone who has experienced God in this building to come celebrate with us.”
She said after the Cloverdale Baptist congregation sells the church building, they will take 40 days to pray and talk about what their next step is.
“It’s very possible we’ll purchase another building and keep meeting,” she said. “Over time we might purchase a building we could be good stewards of, large enough to grow but small enough for a smaller group to maintain.”
Legendary church family
Neal Hughes, director of missions for Montgomery Baptist Association, said Cloverdale Baptist “is not only a congregation of legacy but a church family that’s legendary.”
“Pastors and state missionaries alike — the late Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions Executive Director George Bagley was a member — have faithfully served this body of Christ through many years of Christian pilgrimage,” Hughes said.
He said he and his wife, Mary, “deeply love these dear friends and will keep them close to our hearts and in our prayers.”
One of the other congregations that has been meeting in the Cloverdale Baptist building is Southside Gospel Fellowship, a new church planted there by Montgomery Baptist Association in 2021.
‘Still up in the air’
Southside’s pastor Cameron Bell said details are “still up in the air” about how much longer they will meet at that building, but they’ve already purchased a new facility for their church and are preparing for the move.
“About a month ago, we bought a building — the Lord sovereignly orchestrated the events where a church building in our area became available right around the time Cloverdale Baptist let us know that Wesley Church was considering purchasing their building,” Bell said.
He said they hope to move by early 2026, but it largely depends on how much volunteer help they’re able to get with renovations. For churches or construction teams willing to adopt a room or help in some other way, a list on Southside’s website details the work still needed.
“All help is appreciated,” Bell said.
He said God is moving at Southside.
“We’re seeing the Lord add to our church and people going through our new members class,” he said. “We’ve also got people in the pipeline to get baptized pretty soon.”
Weston said it’s been a blessing for Cloverdale Baptist to have been a part of Southside’s story, as well as Wesley Church’s and The Regathering, a Messianic fellowship that meets there on Friday nights. That group plans to continue sharing space with Cloverdale Baptist wherever they move.
“I’m excited to see what God will do next,” Weston said. “He’s closing a chapter, but He’s opening some chapters at the same time.”
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