Many Alabama Baptist churches have met the challenge to rebuild after being ravaged by hurricanes, tornadoes, floods or fires.
But Piney Grove Baptist Church, Ashville, in St. Clair Baptist Association faced a natural disaster of a different force — termites.
Pastor Porter Burtram said termites chewed three-fourths of the way up sanctuary walls, the floor had fallen by 2 inches and bathroom sinks would no longer adhere to walls weakened by the feasting insects.
“The (termite) problem was first discovered in the 1990s,” said Burtram, who has served as pastor of Piney Grove Baptist for four years. “To save money, church members tried to treat the problem themselves, but they couldn’t control it fast enough.”
After meeting with contractors in 2006, the 45-member congregation realized bulldozing both the fellowship hall and main sanctuary and starting fresh would be less expensive than repairing and remodeling the two termite-infested buildings.
Burtram also said the buildings had no educational space and no room for growth.
So, after a yearlong construction project using mostly volunteer labor, church members hosted a dedication service and meal Aug. 5 to celebrate the completion of a new 9,000-square-foot sanctuary and educational facility.
Costing approximately $165,000, the metal structure includes five Sunday School rooms, a fellowship hall and a sanctuary and will hold up to 300 people. If needed in the future, than a second floor with space for 12 rooms can be added above the new fellowship hall.
Through the years, Piney Grove has become quite familiar with new construction. Since its founding in 1909, the church has occupied four different buildings on the same land. Its first building was destroyed by fire.
Deacon Keith Banks and his wife, Tracy, organized and carried out much of the work on the latest facility, while the congregation held services at Calvary Christian Academy in Ashville.
Banks said bulldozers began razing the old buildings in June 2006. Then church members picked up their hammers.
With help from members of nearby Friendship Baptist Church, Odenville, they worked nearly every Friday and Saturday throughout the next year framing, wiring, hanging Sheetrock, painting and more.
Some finishing work still remains, but the congregation has been worshiping in the new building since the first Sunday in June.
“People worked tirelessly,” Banks said. “We kept saying, ‘If you build it, they will come.’”
Burtram noted that the congregation’s faith and hard work are being blessed and 12 people have been visiting the church since opening the new doors.
“We built to the future, and I preached on faith a time or two,” he said. “God has taught me through it all to remain faithful to the call no matter what. God has blessed and we’ve continued on.”
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