Riverview Baptist reaches tourists, dedicates sanctuary

November 12 was a day of celebration for Riverview Baptist Church in Millers Ferry. With a standing-room-only crowd of more than 200, the church held its dedication ceremony, celebrating the completion of a new worship center. Still bearing the aroma of fresh paint and new carpet, the worship center is the evidence of a dream that became reality.
   
Standing only a few yards from  the Alabama River, the church began as a missions project of Pine Barren Association, the first such project in more than 70 years. The project began as a small seed in the heart of Pastor Eddie Davidson of Camden Baptist Church. Although most of the homes in the area were only weekend and vacation retreats for sportsmen and river enthusiasts, the number of residents seemed to be growing at a remarkable rate.
   
With more than 175 homes in the area and no church within a nine-mile radius, Davidson saw a tremendous need to provide worship opportunities to those who lived or visited there.
   
“Churches in the area were few and far between,” said Davidson. “People were coming from as far away as Alaska to fish, and the area was developing rapidly. I felt there was a great need to minister to these people,” he explained.
   
The idea for the missions project begin to take root as early as 1994.
   
Davidson, along with other area pastors including James Best, who was then director of missions for Bethlehem and Pine Barren associations, began to spend time in the river area to assess the need for a possible new ministry.
  
“When we drove through the area,” Best recalled, “we realized just how many people there were, and the interest began to grow.”
   
The first services of the new missions project began on the banks of the river. An outdoor canopy under the trees served as the first home for the church services, drawing as many as 45 people each Sunday. Outdoor services were held every Sunday from April until October 1994. Amazingly, not one service was rained out.
   
As the need for the ministry became evident, members of the association began to take much interest in promoting the mission and soon decided to sponsor the ministry as its own missions project. A building site by the river was donated by local landowners, the Henderson family, making it possible to consider constructing a missions building in the area.
   
In October 1994, the Alabama Baptist State Convention donated a mobile home to serve as a temporary chapel. Services were moved indoors, after more than six months of riverbank services.
   
Throughout the area, churches and individuals were taking an
increasing interest in the missions project. Monetary donations were made to the project, as well as offers of assistance in the building itself. In addition to Pine Barren Association, Bethel and Bethlehem associations were instrumental in raising necessary funds for the construction. The missions building was completed in 1997 with no outstanding debt. The building provided space for missions work,
yet did not contain a worship center for the church services.
   
In the early stages of the ministry, Lance Sawyer served as pastor, followed in 1995 by Nelson Bullard. In January 1999, after retiring as director of missions, Best took the reins as interim pastor of the new church. Still having services in the makeshift chapel, Best began to make plans for a new worship center. In January 2000, when Best agreed to accept the position of pastor on a more permanent basis, the church began to finalize plans for the new worship center.
   
“I believe the Lord put me here,” said Best, “because, having been director of missions, I knew many people that I could call on for help with the project.”
   
Over the next few months, several teams of church builders came to volunteer as the new worship center was built. People from across the state showed up to offer their services in the construction process, including members of Grove Hill Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Brewton, Broadway Baptist Church of Rainsville, and “Christians on Mission” of Bethlehem and Pine Barren associations. The worship center was completed, debt free, in November of this year.
   
The dedication ceremony of Riverview Baptist Church, which now boasts about 30 active members, brought together many of the individuals who played a part in its birth. It was an acknowledgment of those who gave time and money to see the dream come to fruition.
   
“Now when I drive by there,” said Davidson, “I am so excited to see that steeple standing there and to know that God has done such a wonderful work.”
   
“We dedicated this building,” Best said, “with a prayer that future generations may be blessed to the glory of God and that this house shall always honor Him.”