Flag Spring Church dedicates new building

The Flag Spring Baptist congregation will dedicate the new building Sunday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m.
The Flag Spring Baptist congregation will dedicate the new building Sunday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m.

Flag Spring Baptist Church members faced the worst fear any congregation could on the morning of Nov. 20, 2012, when they were called to the church which was on fire and would burn down. The cause of the fire was never resolved. The members and the pastor vowed that Flag Spring Baptist Church would be rebuilt and rebuilt it is!

It is estimated between 300-400 people came to assist the church in rebuilding. The community was extremely gracious in the outpouring of support and love for the church. Many times during the rebuild anything needed was donated or provided. One example was when a group of men met early one morning in May for breakfast in California and headed out to the church to pour concrete. Upon arriving on site the men removed their work hats, formed a circle and prayed for God's assistance. By 9 a.m. that morning the concrete was completed. "That Was A God Thing," said one member and that seems to have been the motto through the entire building process.

Members say it has been a wonderful journey and with the assistance of many, such as Matt Coley, who they label their Guiding Star, it is completed.

Upon Coley's recommendation the re-building committee visited several churches to come up with the plan for the new church. One member said she started with - Building A Church 101 on her computer to get ideas. The committee wanted a plan that would be big enough to serve God, but small enough to know individuals and that is how the design was discovered.

The new building will seat approximately 150. Unlike the previous building it has a baptistry which they have already used for three baptisms. It also has a modern sound system. The building houses a state of the art fellowship hall which can be divided into small rooms or left large, it also has two Sunday school rooms.

Currently the church meets once a week on Sundays at 11 a.m. They have had services in the building the last four weeks.

Since the fire, the church has experienced a growth. A few came from other churches and joined the effort while others have returned to be part of what was almost lost forever. Members are hoping to begin Sunday school and perhaps a mid-week prayer meeting in the future.

The new Flag Spring Baptist Church building will be dedicated, Sunday, Nov. 17. An open house will be held at 1:30 p.m. and the dedication service, led by Pastor Ken Chapman, will be at 2 p.m. The entire community is invited to come see the building they so overwhelmingly assisted in rebuilding.

The church is located on Flag Spring Road off of Highway 50 across from the Business 50 exit located west of California. The regular Sunday service is at 11 a.m. For more information, call Chapman at 573-893-4845, Sally Vogel at 573-796-3269 or email Chapman at [email protected].