NorthPark Baptist Church held its first service in its new, permanent home on Deerfoot Parkway in Trussville Nov. 3. NorthPark, formerly Roebuck Park, had been meeting at Hewitt-Trussville High School since September 2000.
The morning services capped a busy week of moving offices from the Roebuck Drive location as well as supplies and equipment from the high school.
NorthPark members and staff are thrilled to be in the new facility and were equally excited by the first worship service.
Rheba W. Lee recalled, “When I arrived on Sunday, His arms were open and His ever-present love was evident. My cup runneth over, and I look forward to tasting more and seeing all the good that God will bring about at NorthPark.”
Longtime member Katie Foreman expressed the joy that moved most members to tears, “Being in the new sanctuary for the first time reminded me of David. For the first time I understood David dancing in the streets and ‘making a fool of himself’ because I felt like dancing.”
Building committee chairman Terry Newberry shared, “There was an air of excitement and fellowship. It was like moving into a new house with about 1,600 of your best friends.”
The number 1,600 is not far from the estimated number in attendance at the two services. Allowing for staff, technical team and worship team members who attended both services, the official number lies between 1,450 and 1,500.
Executive Pastor Dennis Blythe said, “Opening day gave us a hint of what God may have in store for our church. It was wonderful to see so many new faces. What a strong indicator of the opportunity that may be before us.”
Senior Pastor Bill Wilks was “blown away by the crowd.” He added, “I knew we would have a big attendance on our first Sunday, but I had no idea that 1,500 would be
there. It was an incredible sight to see our parking lot filled with cars and both our worship services filled with worshipers. God truly does do ‘exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.’”
The opening day and subsequent numbers have been eye-opening to NorthPark’s staff. “We have the realization that we already need a bigger building. I feel that soon we will have to add a third worship service and a third Sunday School,” Wilks said.
Blythe agreed, “Our greatest challenge will be space (due to growth). Adding services and Sunday Schools and being creative with our programming calendar will be key.”
The worshipers in attendance Nov. 3 were not concerned about numbers; they were just glad to be there. Charter member David Boone was moved by “the excitement of the congregation.”
David Hudson chairs the Deerfoot project committee that was responsible for purchasing the land for NorthPark’s move from Roebuck. “On Aug. 14, 1996, the church authorized the acquisition of land and took other necessary actions to build a church at Deerfoot. After more than six years of dedicated effort by the church, it was a thrill to see the people in our new building that first Sunday,” noted Hudson. “This is not the end of this great effort. It is a new beginning.”
Charlie Martin, associate pastor of worship, had been preparing himself and his worship team for this first Sunday for weeks. “Thirty-one days prior to our first Sunday, I gave our worship team Scriptures to read as a part of our daily worship. The week before our first Sunday, we all read 2 Chronicles 1–7 where Solomon prepared and dedicated the temple to the Lord. Our choir sang a song that day that was a paraphrase of that Scripture. I think we were all reminded that this building is not about us, but it’s all about Him.”
The excitement of the new building was further punctuated by the addition of 21 new members. Two young boys were baptized along with an 81-year-old woman, continuing a growth trend begun while meeting in the high school.
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