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.
|