The Fayette Citizen-News Page
Wednesday, July 21, 1999
Church wins as develper loses zoning battle

By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

John Wieland's loss was Heritage Christian Church's gain.

Pastor the Rev. Greg Marksberry said the church, which has been meeting at Oak Grove Elementary School since October 1997, decided it was time to establish its presence in the community more visibly, and made an offer for the former E.A. Brown property, but developer Wieland outbid the group by about a half million dollars.

But Wieland's plans to add the 77-acre site at Redwine and Bernhard roads to his Woodcreek subdivision just across Redwine were rebuffed by the Fayette County Commission earlier this year, and the developer assigned his contract for the property to the church.

And instead of paying Wieland's price, the church got the land for about $50,000 more than its original offer, at $800,000. Marksberry said he has heard of 40 acres of similarly situated property bringing offers of over $1 million.

“We really feel like the Lord provided it,” said Marksberry. “We got it for probably a third of what it could bring.”

The fledgling church is now working to establish its worship and community outreach facilities on the property, and hopes to have a first-phase multipurpose building ready for occupancy by Easter 2000.

“The building committee just formed,” said Marksberry, adding that specific plans for facilities are “still a little bit vague.”

Vaguely speaking, church leaders hope to expand the initial sanctuary/fellowship building over the next five years or so, offering educational space, a family life center, a youth center, and a retreat area providing seminars for visiting ministers and seminarians.

Plans also include a gym and other recreational amenities for the community, such as soccer fields or baseball fields, and some passive recreational uses for a lake that's on the property.

Heritage began as a mission of the Southwest Christian Church in East Point, with about 80 in regular attendance, Marksberry said. Grand opening ceremonies Easter 1998 drew 335 people, he said, though many were well-wishers from Southwest.

Still, the church is averaging about 240 in attendance now, and is moving its services to Braelinn Elementary School in August.

A search committee located Marksberry in Indianapolis, Ind.., where he was ministering at the time, and brought him here to help establish the new church.

Dedication services for the property are set for Aug. 22 at 6 p.m., and church leaders hope for ground breaking soon afterward.


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