THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 22, 1995 TAG: 9510210089
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, CORRESPONDENT SUFFOLK
LENGTH: Long : 126 lines
IT READS LIKE a biblical narrative - an impossible situation, what participants regard as God's intervention and miraculous results.
Two local congregations faced seemingly impossible situations:
A young church, Grace Fellowship, on Shoulders Hill Road, had outgrown its rented facilities. But plans to buy the property on which it sat and to expand were thwarted.
In October 1994, due to growth in operations, Bennett's Creek Nursery had asked the church to plan to relocate from its property within one year. Then came a request for relocation by June.
The 200-plus, predominantly middle-aged, congregation was searching with limited funds in an area of escalating real estate prices.
Mount Zion Christian Church, on Eclipse Drive in Crittenden, faced an equally challenging scenario.
The 105-year-old church had been a lighthouse in the Crittenden-Eclipse community for years. But in recent years, active membership had declined to about 20 senior adults. Although this small group owned its 8,000 square foot facility, there wasn't adequate money to support a full-time pastor and program and to maintain the building.
``When the pastor, choir director and organist all resigned, we wondered what to do and where to go,'' said J.R. Dixon, who became chairman of the board for the remaining membership. ``We committed that the doors would not close, and we would do all we could to keep things intact and wait on the Lord.''
In the meantime, Pastor James Arcieri and members of Grace Fellowship prayed for ``God to work in such a way that people would realize, `Only God could have done this','' Arcieri said.
John Carey and the small band at Mount Zion had prayed for five years: ``Lord, there's got to be a group of young people out there somewhere who needs a building.''
Jean Scudder of Mount Zion, burdened by the situation of her beloved church, called longtime friend Joni Smits of Grace Fellowship to share her concern. ``My heart was hurting,'' Scudder said. ``I'd been at Mount Zion for 35 years, and everything was falling down.''
Over a cup of tea, Scudder told her story to Smits. ``You're not going to believe this,'' Smits told her, ``but we've outgrown our building at Grace Fellowship and need to move.''
After praying together, the two contacted their respective churches. When Dixon met with Arcieri, there was instant rapport. When Dixon visited Grace Fellowship, he said, he felt confirmation in his heart.
``I knew the minute I went into Grace Fellowship that this was the congregation God had for us,'' Dixon said.
In April, the Mount Zion congregation worshipped at Grace; then the Grace membership filled the vacant rooms at Mount Zion to overflowing. After-church receptions encouraged fellowship.
``For the first time in years, there were children and precious babies everywhere,'' said one elated Mount Zion member.
As negotiations continued, more potential hindrances emerged. Grace enjoyed a contemporary worship format, complete with Scripture choruses, worship ensemble and band. For generations, Mount Zion members had followed a more traditional style of worship. The churches adhered to a different form of government, and there was the matter of age span. Members wondered if the two groups would be compatible.
Both churches prayerfully considered the options. When terms of a merger were drawn up and presented to the Mount Zion congregation April 23, a unanimous vote for merger was cast.
``We all rejoiced together in what seemed to be the moving of the Lord's hand in hearts and on circumstances. There were tears of joy!'' noted a weekly update on merger proceedings.
``It's the only unanimous vote we ever received for anything in all our previous history,'' commented Emily Hood, lifelong member at Mount Zion, with a laugh.
On May 14, Grace Fellowship members responded with equal unity, and on June 4 the two churches met for their first worship service as a united congregation.
``We believe this is the hand of the Lord, and we see a common vision in ministry with these people,'' Pastor Arcieri wrote to the Grace congregation. ``There will be adjustment, but no sacrifice of biblical integrity or direction.''
Throughout the honeymoon of this new relationship, legal issues were settled, committees meshed together and a new name chosen - Mount Zion Fellowship.
``The Lord has worked it all out so well,'' Arcieri said.
And another miraculous aspect - the merger took place, with hardly a ripple, in less than six weeks.
Art Kelsey, lifelong resident of Eclipse and a member of Grace Fellowship, noted: ``In an extremely self-centered culture, these people have welcomed us in with such grace. It's been a real witness to the Lord's providence and an unusual showing of graciousness and big-heartedness.''
Kelsey continued, ``It's an excellent testimony for the present congregation but also its many predecessors.''
``This has been a real blessing from the Lord,'' agreed Bob Hattendorf, one of the few older members from Grace. ``I've enjoyed the broadening of the spectrum gained from the mix of ages that the merger has brought.''
Since the merger, Gale Harvell of Mount Zion has joined the worship ensemble and added her enthusiastic support to the new arrangement. ``The Lord has moved in this church so many times in the past, and we needed to step out again in faith . . . The first time we met with the Grace congregation, I felt such warmth and friendliness like we were already family.''
Smits added, ``None of us had any inclination about what God was doing, but, as I watched His plan unfold, I was awed.''
``God has worked in a mysterious way to bring these two congregations together,'' Carey said.
``It's truly a miraculous event,'' Dixon agreed.
Scudder summed up the scenario with deep conviction: ``This is the blessing the Lord intended for Mount Zion - to continue to do what He wants in this community.''
In a recent worship service, Hood shared her testimony of praise for the new partnership: ``There's a spark of new life and an excitement about spiritual things here like never before.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER
Jane Smits raises her hands in praise during a service of the merged
churches, which the congregations named Mount Zion fellowship.
A few youngsters enjoy a volleyball game on the side lot of the new
Mount Zion Fellowship Church.
Church leaders Jim Acieri, left, and J.R. Dixon III helped work out
the details of the church merger.
by CNB