THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 27, 1995 TAG: 9507260209
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
LATE IN THE AFTERNOON on July 10, 1985, members and friends of Liberty Spring Christian Church stood arm-in-arm around the ashes of their beloved sanctuary on Whaleyville Boulevard. About 3:30 that day, a storm had torn through this farming community. An explosion of blue lightning ripped a hole in the base of the steeple and ignited a blaze that swept through the Georgia-pine interior in a matter of minutes.
A community gathered in sorrow as firefighters tried to contain the inferno. Members wept and prayed. Pastor Dolan Talbert and his wife looked on in dazed disbelief.
Before the fire, the small congregation was struggling to repay an $11,000 debt for recent renovations. Now they faced an incredible $1.5 million cost for reconstruction and refurnishing.
Ten years later, the tears have turned to joy. Overcoming huge obstacles, the church has been resurrected, both physically and spiritually.
``When we lost the church building, we didn't lose the church,'' said Jenny Pearce, financial secretary of Liberty Spring's building fund committee following the fire. ``The church is the people with God among us.''
``We never discussed if we would rebuild, but only when,'' lifelong member Sue Nichols said.
That evening, as the ashes smoldered, the Board of Trustees met and initiated a plan.
``The next day the miracles began,'' Pearce said. Money began to pour in from unexpected places. Throughout the following weeks, donations totaling about $32,000 came in from 47 churches throughout eastern Virginia and North Carolina. Individually, 151 organizations, clubs and civic groups contributed more than $159,000 toward the estimated $1.5 million cost.
The Liberty Spring congregation rallied as well.
``Members sold property, gave up their vacations - and many gave until it hurt,'' Pearce said. In all, members, past members and individual friends donated $200,000 for furnishings and carpet.
``This fire had a real impact on our congregation,'' Pearce noted. ``Pocketbooks, hearts and minds opened, and we all pulled together.
``Our church became our priority, and everything else in our lives went on hold.''
Inactive members became active. New members joined in the crusade. And present pastor the Rev. Ken Pepper says a ``deep spiritual fellowship'' developed among the membership.
On a frigid New Year's Day in 1986, more than 30 members cooked their first meal of the year on a gas grill inside the shell of the new church - fulfilling a promise to construction workers to provide lunch in exchange for their overtime labor. Every day, members bought construction materials and delivered them to the site while others provided construction clean-up and volunteer labor to speed progress on the new building.
By Sept. 14, 1986, a dedication service marked the opening of the church's beautiful new, brick edifice near its original site on Whaleyville Boulevard. Another milestone took place last week as members joined to offer praise and thanksgiving to God on the 10th anniversary of the fire.
``We gathered to remember the fire and to commemorate how God brought us through to this point,'' Pepper said. ``As you reflect on what caused the pain, there comes a point when you stop thinking on the pain and sorrow and begin to focus on the joy.
``After all, money is no object to a Father who owns everything.''
But part of last week's celebration involved the new life evident in the lives of Liberty Spring Church's people.
``We had become inward, and the fire made us look at things so differently. Nichols said.
``It's increased our vision and giving to missions,'' said Pearce, who listed three missionaries and a converted Muslim boy actively supported with finances and materials by the church.
Other flourishing ministries - a food closet, benevolent fund, prayer chain, dozens of church-sponsored events and community groups enjoying the use of Liberty Spring's facilities - herald the new life thriving in this new building.
The debt left on the new construction is just $55,150. Once that is paid in full, the church plans to continue to give 10 percent of its finances to mission-related efforts.
``The good Lord knows we've had the blessings poured out here,'' Nichols said. MEMO: Liberty Spring Christian Church is at 4213 Whaleyville Blvd. Call
986-4403 for more information about the church's ministries.
ILLUSTRATION: The Rev. Ken Pepper, pastor
Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Liberty Spring Christian Church was rebuilt after it was destroyed
by fire in 1985. Unexpected gifts from unexpected places helped in
the effort.
by CNB