More than two years after an electrical fire destroyed the sanctuary and educational building of First Baptist Church, Arley, members of the Winston Association church broke ground May 19 for a new structure.
Though saddened by the Jan. 27, 2000, event, the congregation almost immediately began planning a new educational building and sanctuary, adopting Matthew 16:18 as their motto: “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Construction of the sanctuary is the second of a two-phase project that also included restoration of the educational building, where the congregation currently meets.
“The educational building was built with the help of the Internet,” said Joe Watkins, a deacon at the church.
“We advertised on the Web site of the North American Mission Board for volunteer labor to construct the metal building,” he said.
“It was amazing how the churches responded. We began sub-contracting last June and moved in by October.
Volunteer efforts
Twelve groups, including youth groups from as far away as Mississippi and Tennessee, contributed to rebuilding the 21,000-square-foot structure, Watkins said. Gary C. Wyatt Construction Company of Birmingham is contractor for the new sanctuary.
Jamie Collins of Turner Batson Architects said the sanctuary will be brick with a standing-seam metal roof.
The building will feature a fan-shaped seating area and arched windows, combining modern and traditional architectural styles. The front entrance will be reminiscent of the previous sanctuary, Collins added.
Randy Smith, building committee chairman, explained the careful planning that went into the building’s design.
“Our committee met once a week with the builder and architect for 14 months. We wanted to think things out and not be in a hurry. Our job was to take the voice of the congregation to the contractor and architect,” Smith said.
“When it is finished, we will be in better shape as far as building structures and have less debt than we did before the fire.”
Smith said the estimated date for completion of the sanctuary is Christmas.
The sanctuary is expected to cost approximately $1 million, and the seating capacity is approximately 600.
Vision for growth
Sunday worship attendance is currently 250, but the congregation decided to increase the seating capacity of the new sanctuary when they realized the evangelistic opportunities in the area.
The recent explosion of permanent residential development around nearby Smith Lake has spurred the congregation into action.
Pastor Jason Vinson believes the Arley congregation will be prepared to meet the challenge.
“While attending a pastor’s conference at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., I met staff evangelist Rodney Keith and his wife, Mandy. The Keiths have developed a successful evangelistic training strategy that targets 40 percent growth in six months,” Vinson said.
Vinson said the Keiths will conduct a seminar at First Baptist Church, Arley, July 26–28 that will include door-to-door witnessing and a celebration service inviting the community to come forth publicly.
“The Lord has blessed this congregation with a vision to grow and reach people for Jesus Christ,” Vinson said.
“They are very missions-minded as well as evangelistic. Arley First Baptist has a history of greatness, and the people are willing to do whatever needs to be done to see that the work of the Lord goes forward.”
As part of the ground-breaking ceremony, member Mavis Wooten presented a history of the church that traces the first congregation in 1895 to a log cabin three miles from the present site.
Pointing out that First, Arley, lost a sanctuary to fire in 1903 as well as in 2000, Wooten said even with these tragedies “this church has always stood together.”
“In the 1950s, the congregation planted a cotton patch to raise money for an addition to the church,” she said. “We chopped the cotton, and when it came time to gather the crop, we picked six bales in one day. The addition became a reality. We have always had unity, and we strive to build this new building together in unity.”
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