North Highlands Baptist Church Relocation Project
An Introduction by
Brother Doug
On August 20, 1978, I became pastor of North Highlands Baptist Church. The church had gone into a decline some years before I arrived here and that slide continued after I came. We invited a growth consultant from our Baptist state convention to come and meet with us for a number of days. He presented me with a written report and in that report said our congregation had about 10 to 15 years before we would enter into a severe decline, one that would be difficult to come back from. We did plateau for a number of years but we have also had years of substantial growth. But the (worst worst) case scenario is that we have been in plateau or at best shown minimal growth.
In May of 1995, I was involved with our Bessemer Baptist Association in a state convention-led event called a probe. We were assigned designated areas in our county and we got into vans and drove through communities looking where churches were located and searching for areas where Southern Baptist churches were needed. Gary Swafford, a man that I have learned to appreciate and respect, led us in that event. That is when God impressed on my heart the possibility of (1) starting a mission, (2) launching a satellite congregation, and (3) relocating our entire congregation.
We formed a committee to look for some property that could be used for one of the three possibilities. A number of sites were looked at and checked out. There was a ten-acre plot on Virginia Drive that was considered. I was there one Saturday afternoon walking over the land and praying, and I left there that day knowing that it was not where God wanted us to move. The first time I stood at the gate on 15th Street and looked at the 40-acre piece of land, I knew that was where God was taking us. I remember the discouragement I felt when Mr. Roberson at U S X told us we could not have the 40 acres. But we could have 20 for $15,000.00 an acre. That was an astounding $350,000.00. We had a problem! We did not have near that much money, but we were certain God wanted us to purchase the land.
It was that very week that Bill Donaldson, Pastor of Dolonah Baptist Church called and said he and his congregation would like to meet with North Highlands and talk about the possibility of the two churches merging. He told us how the State of Alabama was going to put an exit off Interstate 20/59 for Visionland, and that they were going to purchase the building Dolonah met in. We met, prayed, talked, and came to a mutual agreement and merged. In the process of coming together, the membership of Dolonah became a part of our church family. The funds that they had in their treasury along with what was received from the State of Alabama were transferred to North Highlands' bank accounts with the stipulation that the money could only be used for the purchase of land or new construction. The amount transferred was over $350,000.00. Now I have to ask you...Is God awesome? Bill Donaldson and the members of the Dolonah Baptist church are now one with us and the merger has been a beautiful thing for all concerned.
By this time it was evident that God was leading us to relocate which is a dirty word in Baptist ranks. Relocation means we establish a new campus. That campus would be at the 15th street site. So much is involved with a project like this but God has orchestrated each step and we have been obedient as a congregation to follow His leadership. We took each step before our congregation and each time we received 100% votes of support. Finally, we came together for a specially called business meeting to determine if we would sell our present campus at 2709 No.19th Street in Hueytown and construct a new facility on the newly purchased, debt-free property on 15th Street Road. That vote was over 300 for and 30 against.
Now the process of locating a builder and deciding what would be built began. We met with architects and builders and we had some good presentations made to us by some worthy companies. When the committee came together to vote, it was a unanimous conclusion that we go with Myrick Gurosky and Associates. One of the reasons was that they would be with us through it all. They would (1) help us design what we wanted and needed, (2) they would be involved with us in the development of those plans, and (3) they would be with us through the construction phase of the project. Each of these three phases came before the congregation once the preceding one was complete. It was agreed to construct phase one of a three or four phase project. Phase one would be at a guaranteed maximum price of $4,585,000.00. It would consist of a multi-purpose facility containing a worship center and educational building with an atrium dividing the two. The worship center would seat 704 plus 75 in the choir. The two-story educational building would provide classrooms, fellowship halls, offices, and an elevator.
We went to the city of Hueytown and applied to be annexed into the city. We have served this city since our inception and it remains our commission from God to serve the citizens of OUR city.
The financing for the first phase was done in three ways. (1) A loan from a bank, (2) a one day first fruits offering, and (3) A three-year commitment. We contracted Todd McMichen to come and lead us through our stewardship emphasis. We set up teams as directed by Todd and followed his suggestions to the letter. It became a spiritual renewal rather than a financial emphasis. I met with small groups and explained what we were doing. The response was phenomenal.
Two dates were set. The first was March 7, 2004 and would be known as commitment Sunday. On that day we would all bring our one day first fruits offering. It was a moving experience as we prayed and then walked down the aisles and placed our offerings in boxes that were placed across the front. Two of Hueytown's finest police officers escorted those boxes into the office where the monies were put in bank bags and carried to AmSouth Bank. No one knew how much that offering was and would not know until a month later when it would be announced on the second date, Sunday April 4, 2004. Along with our first fruits offerings we placed our commitment cards for the three-year commitment in those same boxes. Three teams of members went to the bank early Monday morning to remove the cards and count the one day offering. The offering was divided into three batches. The teams listed and tallied each donation in their batch and three totals were handed to our financial secretary who was the only person to know the grand total. And she was sworn to keep that to herself until April 4. It was an exciting month. Anticipation was great and momentum was building throughout this entire process.
Sunday April 4, 2004 the people came with a lot of anticipation. It was as if something unexpected was about to happen. The service began and we sang hymns, made announcements, prayed prayers and still only one individual in that service knew what the figures were from that March 7 service. Then came the big moment. One figure would be shown at a time. We had our drummer give us a drum roll. The moment was finally here. Every eye was fixed on the screen at the front of the worship center and slowly letters began to scroll across the screen:
F I R S T F R U I T S O F F E R I N G $ 4 2 7 , 0 3 4, 0 0.
T H R E E Y E A R C O M M I T M E N T $ 6 4 6, 4 0 6, 0 0
G R A N D T O T A L $ 1 , 0 7 3, 4 4 0 . 0 0.
There was an outburst of applause. Celebration Sunday was truly a celebration and time of praise.
Meanwhile we were talking with banks concerning a construction loan. The guaranteed maximum price quoted by M G & A was $4,585,000. BanCorp South came into my office and laid a proposal on my desk granting us a $4,585,000.00 draw account. Our attorney looked over the paperwork and said it was a good transaction. Our trustees signed the necessary documents and we closed on the loan June 3, 2004.
On Wednesday, May 5, 2004 the first piece of equipment began to work. The site preparation was underway. We watched as yard after yard of top soil was moved so we could get to the clay so we could build a facility on it. A good foundation is necessary for a sound building. On July 19, 2004 they started digging footings and concrete was being poured on July 21.
Today is July 29 and I have been typing this document but I think I will excuse myself for a while and go see what's happening at the property.
CLOSING OF THE LOAN back to top
This cute story was submitted by Pat Bailey concerning the day of the closing of the loan at Marjorie Dabb's office.
Mr. Scoggins and his family leased the land that we now own for the new church site. He had a garden on the land when he was a boy and he helped his father terrace the land with a mule. I met him one day just after we had purchased the land and he cried when he was telling me about his memories. I will never forget that day. He made me almost wish we hadn't purchased the land.
-Brother Doug
| Aerial View of North Highlands Baptist Church | Aerial View of 15th Street Property |
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Aerial View of Dolonah Baptist Church
