Woodland Builds

From Vison to Victory

2008-08-05T06:12:00.008-04:00

What began as a dream in the minds of some forward thinking church leadership became a vision for an entire church. The vision became a plan, the plan became an opportunity for sacrifice and giving, and it all culminated with a packed house worshiping Jesus Christ in our new building. Praise God for his goodness! (Click on photos to enlarge.)

A full house for the first worship service

Eight baptisms!

Parking was like Wal-Mart two days before Christmas.

This will be the last post for Woodland Builds. Now that the building is complete, you're invited to come out to 545 Crabtree Road and see the real thing for yourself. How does next Sunday at 10:30 a.m. sound?

End Of An Era

2008-07-28T05:36:00.007-04:00

A full house for the final worship service on Old Clyde Road

Sunday, July 27, 2008 marked the final worship service at our building on Old Clyde Road. It was a time for reminiscing, and for thanking God for all his blessing on this local body since its formation in 1938. Keeping with the significance of the occasion, Pastor Alan preached a sermon titled "Looking Back" from Deuteronomy 8. It was a day that brought out a range of emotions among the congregation as we considered our church's past, and looked forward with excitement towards its future. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Pastor Timmy and Banjo give the children's sermon

Pastor Alan preaches with a 55 gallon drum for a pulpit, which is what Woodland's first pastor had to use back in 1938.

Amber Rhinehart sings "Praise the King"

Worshipers exit for the final time

Two Weeks To Go

2008-07-20T21:23:00.007-04:00

The new date for the building dedication has been set for August 3rd, and it looks like this is a deadline the contractor can keep. I think everybody at Woodland is starting to get excited as we see the completion date drawing near.

New glass doors at the main entrance

Don't park in those handicap spaces if you don't belong there. Check out those fines! And no, you can't deduct the fine from your tithe.

Fenced-in playground area for the younger grades

Going Into Overtime

2008-07-05T09:53:00.020-04:00

"Will we have Woodland's building finished by July 20 like we promised Pastor Alan?"

"I don't think so, Tim."

________________________________________________________

Just a wee bit behind schedule.

I think the Empire State Building was the last building in the history of construction to be completed on time (actually, it was completed ahead of schedule), and that was way back in 1931. So it's to be expected that our new church building is running "just a little bit behind schedule". The July 20 kickoff date has gone up in a cloud of construction dust, and now we're looking at sometime in early August. I guess we'll get there when we get there.

The "not quite ready" asphalt parking lot. It will one day hold 200+ cars.

Paving of the parking lot forced a cancellation of the planned July 4th pic-nic. A few of the Woodland faithful, however, didn't let that get in the way of enjoying the Lake Junaluska fireworks show. We just parked across the street from the new building, broke out the lawn chairs, drinks, and snacks, and enjoyed a pleasant summer's evening with friends and fireworks.

Pastor Timmy showing off his new hair style.

Woodland's fireworks watchers enjoying fellowship before the big show.

While were waiting for the fireworks show to start, Virgil gave some of us a sneak peek at the interior progress in the new building.

"Almost completed" risers in the choir loft.

"Nearly ready" built-in work area in the church office.

"Close to finished" children's classroom.

5 Weeks To Go

2008-06-15T20:35:00.005-04:00

We're counting down the days until Kickoff Sunday on July 20th! Check out the billboard on the highway between Canton and Clyde. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

The new "old rugged cross" on the front of the steeple tower

The spacious parking lot is almost ready for paving.

View from the front door to the parking lot

Woodland Gets First Look At New Building Interior

2008-05-20T08:38:00.008-04:00

View of the stage area of the sanctuary

Tours of the new church facility interior were given last Sunday afternoon by Pastor Alan Davis and Virgil Keene. Virgil has been serving as the Building and Grounds Committee's on-site "watchdog", making sure that everything is being done according to our plans, and construction quality remains up to expected standards. Virgil's many years of experience in the construction industry enables him to make sure that our building is being built right.

Virgil Keene and Pastor Alan discuss the building tour schedule

Those who took the tour were no doubt impressed with the amount of thought that is going into the design and construction of the building. The building as a whole is impressive, but after we move in and start using the building, the thought that went into the details will be what amazes you most. Here are a few views of the inside of the building. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

The main hall, with church offices to the right

Entrance foyer, looking into the sanctuary

Looking down the hallway of the children's classroom wing

The spacious fellowship hall

View of the rear of the sanctuary. The "house-shaped" opening in the wall is the location for the sound crew.

Getting Stoned

2008-05-07T06:30:00.005-04:00

Since I haven't been able to get inside the building for a couple of weeks now, all I can show is how the stone work on the front of the building is progressing. It's going to look real nice when it's all finished.

I've peeked in the widows and can see sheet rock going up, and air conditioning ducts above the ceiling. Hopefully, I'll be able to update some inside photos soon. Oh yeah, the completion date is estimated at mid-July now. That's not too far off!

Catching Up

2008-04-19T16:32:00.010-04:00

I've been gone on a Spring break vacation with my family, so I've got some catching up to do on what's been going on at the new building site. The first thing I noticed was that our building has a steeple now!

Workers began putting up the stone that will cover the front of the building. It looks good already!

Outside lighting will help make our building safe at night.

One addition that I wasn't glad to see was a padlocked front door; no more interior shots for a while, I guess.

An Inside Job

2008-04-08T08:22:00.005-04:00

I didn't take any photos of the outside of the building this week. It looked just like it did week ago. Most of the work is going on inside now as walls, plumbing, and wiring continue to go in. The most noticeable amount of work was in the front of the building in the platform area

This photo shows the aluminum floor joists and railing that have been installed in the last week or so.

This is a view across the platform from the right side.

I think this will be a changing room for baptisms. You're looking through the doorway that will lead to the baptistry.

Sign Of A Growing Church

2008-03-31T06:12:00.004-04:00

Nathan Garrett's Ordination

Perhaps better than photos of a building under construction, the ordination of a young man being sent out to do ministry is evidence of a growing church. Pray for Nathan Garrett and his wife Nancy as they head to Montana to begin their new ministry there. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

It's Getting Dark Inside

2008-03-29T18:44:00.012-04:00

I didn't get to visit the building site last week, so this week's visit showed a lot of progress. All of the roof is completed now, which makes it a little dark inside for photos. More inner wall frames are up, making it easier to see the actual layout of classrooms, offices, the sanctuary, and the fellowship hall. It's really starting to look impressive in there!

The back wall of the sanctuary, showing the main entrance and hallway leading to church offices and classrooms.

The fellowship hall is completely encolsed by its wall frames. It's really big!

Boxes of the stone that will soon cover the front of the building are lined up out front awaiting the installers. The front windows are covered by the Tyvek paper right now, but that will be cut away later.

Public Service Announcement From The Editor

2008-03-18T20:18:00.008-04:00

Do you see that "Next Blog" button in the blue banner above the words "Woodland Builds"? It has come to my attention that one of our viewers clicked it thinking it would take her to an earlier Woodland Builds post, or another Woodland church blog. Instead, after a few clicks she ended up at a XXX blog. Oooops!!!

The "Next Blog" button is designed by Blogger, the host site, to randomly take the viewer to another blog in the Blogger system. There are tens of thousands of blogs out there of varying content, including a few I'm sure you don't want to see. There's no way to predict or control which blog will come up next, and as can happen whenever one randomly surfs the web, one can end up anywhere. I experimented by clicking "Next Blog" continuously for about 15 minutes, viewed about 60 blogs, and didn't come across anything objectionable. However, I guess it's possible to hit an objectionable blog on the first click, so be warned. It's not a design feature of the Woodland Builds blog, and it certainly wasn't my intent to link anyone to a porn site. So unless you're the adventurous sort, DON'T CLICK THE "NEXT BLOG" BUTTON.

If you want to view previous posts of Woodland Builds, use the "Blog Archive" section on the right side of the page. This will keep you within the Woodland Builds blog where all the content is rated G, and everyone will remain properly attired. The Woodland Baptist Church website can be reached by clicking its link in the "Links" section, also located on the right side of the page. Last time I checked, everyone was clothed there also. As always, children should be properly supervised whenever they're online.

John Roberts
Woodland Builds Editor

Closing In

2008-03-17T06:24:00.006-04:00

Progress on the roof and outer walls continued this week, along with more work on interior wall frames. The steeple tower got its roof, and the roof on the right side of the building continues to inch toward the front. Soon, the building will be completely closed in.

Beginnings of the rear wall of the sanctuary, showing what will be the main entrance.

Steeple tower with new roof and siding.

The fellowship hall is almost completely closed in now.

Getting Wired

2008-03-10T05:26:00.007-04:00

From the outside, it doesn't look like too much got done at the new building site this past week. A little more of the roof is up. Some more siding has been added to the back wall. Wall studs are being added to the steeple structure. Inside, however, some interesting things are going on. Electrical wiring is being run throughout the building. Outlets are appearing in each of the classrooms and offices. That will be a huge improvement over the education building we're in now: adequate outlets and power. It will be nice to be able to turn on a heater without shutting off the lights in the entire building!

The back wall of the building is almost complete, and the back wall of the sanctuary is starting to take shape.

Our building after the first week in March. Those skies give an indication of what March weather in the mountains can be like! Pray that construction can continue on schedule.

Fighting The Weather

2008-03-02T06:22:00.005-05:00

View showing roof and back wall progress.

As can be expected this time of year, the ever-changing winter weather seemed to be impeding progress a little bit this week. Work continued on completing the roof, and closing in the back wall reached the half-way point. (Click on photos to enlarge.) Other than that, not much looked different from last week. Don't fear, however - the crocuses and daffodils are popping up, so Spring and better weather are on the way!

View of the back wall of the building.

Welcome To Woodland

2008-02-23T18:14:00.010-05:00

As more wall frames went up to further define the office area of the new building, the entrance foyer also began to take shape. The counter frame for what I'm guessing will be a welcome area for visitors is in place. It willl be visible as soon as one enters the building. From there, one can proceed into the sanctuary, to the church offices, or down one of the halls to the classroom areas.

Future rest rooms. Can you tell which side is for the ladies?

Siding completed on the right side of the building.

Frames for sanctuary side walls are complete.

The steel skeleton on the front of the building shines in the morning sunlight.

Continued Progress

2008-02-16T17:51:00.012-05:00

Despite the ever-changing mountain weather, work on the new building continues to progress at what seems like a rapid pace. I only get to visit the building site once a week, and I'm usually amazed at how much work has been done since my last visit. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

The roof on the left classroom wing was completed this week.

Wall sections were erected for the future church offices.

More walls for classrooms on the right side classroom wing. This view is looking toward the front of the building.

Looking across the back of the sanctuary with office area to the left of the photo.

Cover-up Revealed At New Building Site

2008-02-09T19:55:00.001-05:00

That's right, part of that soon-to-be-a-landmark blue roof was put up this week. You can't hide something as distinctive as a blue roof for long. Soon the entire roof will be covered with that pretty blue sheet metal, making our new building a real eye-catcher on Crabtree Rd. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

By the way, we'll need more than one person to lock all those doors after services. Better get the sign-up sheet started early!

Looking out of the future main entrance to the building, showing the frame for the entrance way covering.

Also new this week are the metal studs for the interior classroom walls.

This view shows the front of the building with the wall studs and front window openings.

Filling In The Gaps

2008-02-03T06:56:00.000-05:00

The steel frame is up, and now the construction crew is putting up walls. Metal wall studs are beginning to close in the sanctuary area, and the sheet metal on the left hall continues to grow. Wall studs appeared on the front of the building also. Despite the sometimes uncooperative mountain weather, our building continues to inch toward completion.

Insulated metal wall grows back to front on left side of building.

Metal studs for sanctuary walls.

Outside of metal wall on left side of building.

Work Continues Despite Winter Weather

2008-01-26T17:00:00.000-05:00

We had typical western North Carolina January weather this week - a little bit of everything from milder temperatures to sleet and snow. Nevertheless, work continued as more ribs were added to the roof, and part of a wall was begun. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

A section of a metal wall with a door and two windows is up in the left rear corner of the building.

This photo shows one of the large sliding windows with tinted glass. Also visible is the fiberglass insulation, that along with the tinted glass, will help our new building be much more energy efficient.

Church Building Distinctives

2008-01-20T18:54:00.000-05:00

The steel framework of our new building got an addition this week that will make it look distinctively like a church. The tower-like structure that will eventually support the steeple has been erected. Steeples probably originated as ornate toppings to bell towers that became popular on church buildings in the 600's. Bell towers, inspired by military watchtowers, were used to announce worship times and advertise the location of the church. Today, steeples serve somewhat the same purpose since most people just naturally identify a building with a steeple as a church building.

Another structure added this week is the frame for the covered entrance. That's where us good husbands and fathers can drop off our wife and children under a protective covering in wet weather so they can stay warm and dry. Then we'll drive out to that expansive new parking lot, park the car, and walk back to the building in the cold and rain. Hey, wait a minute! Whose idea was that?

Overdrive

2008-01-12T15:54:00.000-05:00

This was how our building looked on this foggy Saturday morning after a very productive week of construction. The construction workers at the building site really kicked it into overdrive this week. In spite of some rainy days, look how much steel got put up compared to last Saturday's photos! (Click on photos to enlarge.)

This will one day be a hallway of classrooms filled with people studying God's Word.

You can almost visualize this future sanctuary full of people praising our God.

Back To Work

2008-01-05T22:10:00.001-05:00

The Christmas and New Year's break is over, and it was back to work for Cooper Construction. Now that they're back working, you can see some progress every day as our new building continues to take shape. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

New sections of steel framing are being added daily.

Like a giant steel skeleton, the frame work of Woodland's new building is silhouetted against the winter sky.

The first steel for one of the side classroom wings went up this week.

Christmas Greetings

2007-12-24T07:12:00.001-05:00

Something New Every Day!

2007-12-22T21:27:00.000-05:00

It wasn't that long ago that I could go for weeks without having anything to photograph at the construction site for the new building. Now, we can see changes taking place daily. The slab is finished, and more steel went up Thursday and Friday in spite of the rainy weather.

This photo was made from about where the main entrance will one day be. You can see the sloping floor of the future sanctuary. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

First Wall

2007-12-21T06:12:00.001-05:00

Surprisingly to me, the first wall was erected this week, even before the slab was finished. Workers were still pouring concrete at the front of the building when I made this photo of a section of the back wall on a foggy Thursday morning.

"May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels."
Psalm 122:7

Final Christmas On Old Clyde Road

2007-12-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

I know we're all excited about the new building going up, but it's still a little sad that this will be the last Christmas we celebrate in this building. This year makes eight Christmases that my family has enjoyed children's programs, special choir presentations, and Christmas sermons in this building. Many of you have been celebrating Jesus' birth here a lot longer than that. There's a lot of good memories in this building. Pastor Alan asked me to make some photographs of the sanctuary while the Christmas decorations are up for the last time, so here's one to remember her by. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Some Assembly Required

2007-12-16T06:17:00.000-05:00

"Some Assembly Required" - the words that every Dad dreads reading on Christmas Eve when it's time to play Santa Claus. Tools scattered all over the living room, assembly instructions written by someone for whom English is a second language, diagrams that don't match the parts you're holding in your hands - we've all been there. The construction workers at our building site are facing a similar scene as the pieces of our new building begin to pile up as work continues on the foundation. Hopefully, when our builders are finished, they won't face the dilemma many of us face when we're finished on Christmas Eve: left over parts.

All the freight companies are learning the new address of Woodland Baptist Church. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

This pile of sheet metal will one day be Woodland's distinctive blue roof.

I hope these pieces are numbered better than the ones for the last bike I put together!

This doesn't look like a church building now, but it will soon!

Concrete Evidence

2007-12-08T20:53:00.000-05:00

A good bit of concrete got poured for the back part of the building this past week. You can't see it because it's covered by tarps for protection while it dries and cures, but it's under there (I peeked).

This area of the building will one day be classrooms, with our fellowship hall and kitchen just beyond. No more standing up to eat - imagine that.

Many Parts

2007-12-02T05:18:00.000-05:00

Plumb lines. Conduit. Re bar. Excavators. More holes. Drain pipes. Crushed stone. Footers. Stone blocks. Concrete forms. PVC pipe.

The outline of a building takes shape.

Learning Curve

2007-11-26T05:59:00.000-05:00

This construction project is a learning experience for me. When we learned that the next step would be pouring the slab, I envisioned the workers setting up some wooden forms and pouring concrete. Simple, right? Not so. That foundation is a lot more complicated than I thought. There's a lot of things that have to go under that foundation before the concrete is poured, like all the plumbing and electrical conduit, and footers for the steel beams that will eventually support the building. Watching this foundation take shape has been fascinating to me. All those pipes and conduits, and all the footers have to be in exactly the right place before the concrete is poured. If they're off even just a little, it will cause major problems later in the building process. It has been interesting to see the precision that is called for in building this foundation. There's a lot more to it than just "pouring a slab"!

Something To Build On

2007-11-18T19:31:00.000-05:00

Last week's holes in the ground are beginning to turn into the outline of a building. Parts of the plumbing and conduit for the electric service are being put into place before the slab is poured. Footers that will support the steel uprights are recognizable now. Even for someone like me who knows little about construction, it's starting to look like a building! (Click on photos to enlarge.)

A concrete form for a footer, showing the large supporting pad underneath. These will one day support the entire weight of the building.

A completed footer ready for a steel upright to be attached to it.

Looking like a piece of modern sculpture, part of the plumbing system is in place ready for the pouring of the slab.

Digging In

2007-11-11T06:34:00.001-05:00

Well, these holes ain't the prettiest part of the building, but they're essential to a good foundation. And we all know from Scripture how crucial a good foundation is. Soon, all these hole will be covered with concrete, so we won't have to look at them anymore. Even though we won't be able to see this part of the new building, it will be reassuring to know it's there - a good foundation.

Staking Out A Foundation

2007-11-04T19:57:00.000-05:00

If you drive by the new facility site, you'll finally see something there besides dirt. Wooden stakes, chalk lines, and holes being dug here and there are the preliminary steps of putting in the foundation for our new building. Although it's only a rectangle of stakes and chalk right now, use your imagination and you can see our new building taking it's place among the beautiful mountains of Haywood County.

Breaking Ground - Finally!

2007-10-08T05:36:00.000-04:00

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ . . .

Yeah, I know. It's been snooze city here at Woodland Builds lately. But that's only because most of what's been going on with the building project has been behind the scenes, away from my camera. You know, the boring stuff like planning, meetings with bankers, applying for various permits, selling our current building, etc. All very essential, but all very boring. Now, however, the action begins!

Sunday, October 7, 2007, Woodland Baptist Church finally broke ground on it's new building. As early as this week we should start seeing some activity on the site that actually looks like construction. From now until the building is completed, there should be interesting scenes for me to photograph, and for you to look at every week. Here's some scenes from Sunday's event (Click on photos to enlarge.) :

Pastor Alan adds "the back of a pick-up truck" to the long list of places that he has preached.

Some of the crowd that came to celebrate the event.

Amber Rhinehart sings at Sunday's ceremony.

Members of the Building and Grounds Committee, and the Design Team turn over the first dirt for the new building.

Woodland's oldest deacon, Vardy Fugate, assisted with the groundbreaking.

We're not building a church.

2007-08-09T08:50:00.000-04:00

Recent Visitor Map from StatCounter

I enjoy the comments and questions by email I sometimes get from visitors of this site. They let me know somebody's actually looking. One emailer from Virginia questioned my use of the word "facility" instead of "church" in the blog sub-title. She thought it sounded too much like we're merely building an office, or a plant of some sort. Actually, I chose to use the word "facility" very deliberately because the building that will go up on Crabtree Road is not a church.

Woodland Baptist Church is an assembly of people, not to be confused with the building we inhabit at any given time. The New Testament never uses the Greek word ekklesia to describe a building, but rather, a called out assembly of people. Am I just splitting hairs over semantics? I don't think so. Would you refer to the house that you live in as your family? Of course not. Wouldn't you think it strange if a friend with a new home invited you to "come see the new family we built in Canton?" Of course you would. Your house is merely the building where your family resides, not the family itself. Just as only people can comprise a family, only redeemed people can comprise a church.

Of course, people will continue to refer to the building we meet in as "the church". That's just common usage of the term, and it probably will never change. However, I think it's important that we not allow ourselves to be so identified with a particular building that it becomes what we think of when we say "Woodland Baptist Church". People should come to mind first. We'll all be proud of our new facility when it's completed, and rightfully so. We're all working hard to make it happen. But this new building could be destroyed by a fire or a storm in a matter of minutes. Not so the church. This new building may one day face the wrecking ball to make room for another building. The church of Jesus Christ will stand forever; He said the gates of hell will not prevail against it. No building can make that claim. Only the church, "the called out assembly" that Jesus has built, will last forever. Only Jesus can build a church.

A Place To Park

2007-08-05T21:06:00.000-04:00

One of the reasons our church decided to relocate to a new site was the lack of space available for parking at our current property. It's just a fact of modern life: more people equals more cars. The new location for Woodland will have plenty of level, paved parking close to the building. The fill dirt for the parking area is in place, and now we're ready to start seeing some site prep for the foundation. The official groundbreaking should be later this month.

More Dirty Deeds At The New Church Site

2007-07-17T05:39:00.000-04:00

Yes, more dirt for Woodland! This time they're filling in the area that will be the parking lot for the new building.

Before the 4th of July celebration and dedication ceremony, many people had commented on how small the area for the new building looked from the road. It hardly seemed big enough for the size building we were envisioning. But after folks actually got to go on the property and walk around on it, they saw how large an area it really is. The area being filled now for the parking lot will make it even bigger. And there will still be some space behind the new building to allow for further expansion in the future. Buying this piece of property will prove to be a wise choice for many years to come.

First Church Function On New Property

2007-07-07T16:42:00.000-04:00

Woodland held it's first official function at its future location on Crabtree Rd., a 4th of July celebration and dedication of the new property. Since the new location is an ideal spot to watch the annual fireworks show put on by Lake Junaluska Assembly, it was decided that this would be a good time to gather everyone together to dedicate the new property, and also enjoy a little food and fun for Independence Day.

Athletes in action?

For now, lots of room for games at the new property.

At Woodland, we love to eat!

Gospel singing mountain style.

Pastor Alan preaching during the dedication ceremony.

Another Sign Of Growth

2007-07-02T22:07:00.000-04:00

A growing church needs a growing group of servant leaders. Welcome our newest deacon, Scott Sluder! (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Why We Build

2007-06-24T18:48:00.001-04:00

(Click on individual images to enlarge.)

Celebration Event

2007-05-21T05:53:00.000-04:00

The climax to the Vision to Victory campaign was the Celelbration Event held on May 20 at the Haywood County Fairgrounds. The adults enjoyed a barbeque dinner, while the children had their own party with food and games. After dinner, there was singing and testimonies, followed by a short sermon by Pastor Alan Davis. The evening was concluded as people turned in their commitment cards containing what they expect to give to the building fund over the next three years.

Who picked the caterer???

(Actually, the food was very good!)

Piles of barbeque and all the fixin's await hungry church members.

Bill Wilkerson and Pastor Alan Davis unveil the scale model of our new building.

The children's party included games, face painting, music, and lots of food.

Harold Medford shares his testimony.

Pastor Alan encourages Woodland from God's Word.

Bill Wilkerson built this scale model of our new building. Amazing detail!

Feel Free To Comment

2007-04-18T20:14:00.000-04:00

Until recently, I hadn't figured out all of the options available from Blogger (the host for this blog) for adding comments from you, the viewers. The default settings required you to register for an account with Blogger. Understandably, that was too much trouble to go through just to add a short comment to a post. Well, that's all changed now!

Now you can add a comment without registering for a Blogger account. To post a comment, simply click on "Comments" at the bottom of each post, then click "Post a Comment". The screen shown here will appear. Type in your comment, and then click "Google/Blogger" if you have a Blogger account, "Other" if you want to leave your name, or "Anonymous" if you don't. Then click "Publish Your Comment". It's that simple!

Now you can let me, and the other viewers of Woodland Builds know what you think about what's going with our building project. Let us all know what you think!

The Unveiling

2007-04-15T18:12:00.000-04:00

A good crowd turned out on April 15, 2007 for the presentation of Woodland's building plans and fundraising goals. After a covered dish fellowship supper, the rendering showing what the new church building will look like was unveiled. (Faithful viewers of Woodland Builds got a one-day, sneak peak of it two weeks ago.) Also presented were the church's fund raising goals as part of the capital fund raising campaign that will continue over the next three years.

Decorative centerpieces with a construction theme were on every table.

Joe Smith and Pat Conard were given the honor of unveiling the rendering of Woodland's new church building.

Bob Keeling and Ryan Campbell display a banner with our fund raising goals.

Beth and Ryan Campbell gave a stewardship testimony. And no, Ryan did not doze off during his own testimony. That's just photographer's error - I happened to catch him in mid-blink. Sorry about that, Ryan!

This is what our new church building should look like when completed. The rendering was done by local artist Andy Bailey, who was kind enough to send me a copy for use in Woodland Builds. Andy works for D. Wright & Associates, Woodland's architects for the project.

Where did it go?

2007-04-04T20:23:00.001-04:00

Oooooops! Well, it seems I jumped the gun by posting a rendering of the new church building this morning. I posted it before finding out that the plan is to unveil it at a fellowship dinner later this month. So if you already saw it, pretend that you're Sgt. Shultz and forget what you saw. (For those of you too young to remember Hogan's Heroes, ask your parents who Sgt. Shultz is.) If you missed it, be sure to come to the fellowship dinner on April 15 for the unveiling.

Ain't it purty?

2007-04-02T05:52:00.000-04:00

Dirt is not often described as "pretty", but I think this pile of dirt qualifies. The job of filling in the space that will be the pad for the new building has been completed. Later, fill dirt for parking areas will be added, but the space for the new church building is ready for the next step, the pouring of the slab.

This view shows how much higher the final grade is above the surrounding land. This will give our new building the protection it needs should Richland Creek ever get out of its banks during a severe storm. No more soaked carpets for us!

Construction sites are usually a "hard hat zone", and the new church site is no different. Besides the usual construction site hazards, the church site is routinely shelled with balls from the nearby driving range. (Yes, those are golf balls you see in this photo looking in the direction of the driving range.) Of course, that problem will be corrected long before the building is completed, but consider this: Hundreds of years from now, future archeologists will no doubt be puzzled by the presence of golf balls as they sift through the dirt of what they thought was the site of an old church. Let them figure it out!

What a difference a month makes!

2007-03-18T05:57:00.000-04:00

I made these photos yesterday afternoon. As you can see by comparing these to ones I made a month ago, mucho dirt has been moved to our new building site.

This manhole is about 12-14 feet deep. The bottom of it is where the old ground level was. I'm guessing that the orange line indicates where the finished ground level will be. Not much more to go!

This photo is looking down into the manhole. Although it's dark down there, you can just make out the end of a drainage pipe that was lying on top of the ground before any fill dirt was brought in (See February 8, 2007 post). Now it's waaaaaay down there.

Standing Firm

2007-03-17T06:14:00.000-04:00

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in Him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a day of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8

----------------------
It's been a month since I last posted a photo to this site. There's only so many photos you can show of dirt being piled up, so I thought I'd wait a few weeks and then show a progress shot. I drove by the construction site yesterday, and it's really looking good. If the weather cooperates, I'll get out there today for some update photos. Meanwhile, stand firm.

Metal Church Buildings Not A New Idea

2007-02-15T20:37:00.000-05:00

Through the wonder of the internet, I get to communicate with photographers from around the world. While visiting the blog of a new acquaintance from Istanbul, Turkey, I learned of a metal church there that dates from the 1890's. So metal church buildings are not such a new idea after all.

Check it out by clicking:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_St_Stephen_Church

Church With A View

2007-02-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

This is view of the new building site looking northwest. Pretty nice view, huh? (Photo made 2/11/07.)

Doin' the dirty work

2007-02-10T15:34:00.000-05:00

The church construction site was a beehive of activity early Saturday morning as workers took advantage of the dry weather.

Dump trucks rolled in almost every minute as they hauled dirt being dug from a site on Howell Mill Road.

As soon as the dirt is dumped, a bulldozer moves in to spread it out before the next load arrives.

Church Building For Sale

2007-02-09T05:46:00.000-05:00

Now that there is a "For Sale" sign in front of Woodland Baptist Church, I wonder what people are thinking when they see it? "Are they moving?" "Are they going out of business?" "Who would want to buy a church?" "I wonder how much a church goes for nowadays?" Who knows what they're thinking. I just know God has a buyer out there, because the Bible says He will provide for all our needs.

I've heard rumors that one inquirer just wants the property to build houses or apartments. I really don't care what the next owner does with it, but it would be nice if another church bought it to use as a church. Just in case the building is torn down by the next owner, I plan to make a series of documentary photos of the building and its interior to remember her by. There's a lot of memories in that building.

You've Got Dirt!

2007-02-08T21:11:00.000-05:00

Brian Noland called me last night to let me know that the dirt has finally started arriving - 25 or so loads on the first day! I went out first thing this morning to get some pictures. What had been dumped yesterday had already been spread and compacted as you can see in the picture. Lots more dirt will be needed to raise the grade 10-12 feet above what you see here, but at least the filling has begun!

It pays to ask questions.

2007-02-07T12:44:00.000-05:00

On my last post I poked a little fun at WNC Paving for not coming through with any dirt yet. After visiting the site this morning and talking with some of the workers there, I learned there's some drainage work that has to be done first. So that's what's going on now. Drainage pipe has to be installed first before they just start dumping dirt. Speaking as a native of Louisiana, trust me, good drainage is important. So now I'll be a little more patient about the dirt. As Paul Harvey says, "Now you know the rest of the story."

Anticipation

2007-02-03T19:09:00.000-05:00

Meanwhile, back at WNC Paving headquarters . . .

"Silt fence in place?"
"Check."
"Compactor at site?"
"Check."
"What about an excavator?"
"Check."
"We'll need a grader too."
"Check."
"What about the dirt?"
"Uh, er, uh, the dirt?"
"Yeah, the dirt. It's a fill job, remember?"
"Uh, oh yeah, the dirt. Uh, yeah, this week, uh, weather permitting, of course."

************************
Well, it looks like everything is in place for the dirt to start arriving. The anticipation of seeing that first load dumped is building - to an excruciating level. Maybe this week. We hope.

Pray for good weather. Pray for dirt.

Capital Fund Campaign Kick-off

2007-01-28T21:18:00.000-05:00

Preaching a sermon from Matthew 21:33-41 titled "Whose Vineyard Is It?", Dr. Bob Entner of TLC Ministries began our Capital Fund Campaign at both the 8:20 and 11:00 worship services. The sermon centered on the subject of stewardship, and the responsibility we have to properly manage what God has entrusted to each of us.

At the evening service, Dr. Entner gave an overview of what will take place over the next few months as each family seeks how God will have them involved. There was an emphasis on the need for sacrificial giving, and the long-term importance of what we are about to begin. Dr. Entner also explained that this is not just a means of raising money, but an opportunity for spiritual growth for our church.

Well, it's a start . . .

2007-01-27T18:08:00.000-05:00

The wait for dirt has so far gone unrewarded, but wait! There is something happening at the new church site. The first structure to be erected on the new site, a silt fence, is in place!

OK, this may not seem like very big news, but it's actually evidence that dirt is coming. (I know we've been hearing that since mid-December, but remember, we walk by faith, not by sight.) The silt fence is in place to contain any run-off from the dirt that is coming. So if the silt fence is up, the dirt can't be far behind. Stay tuned for further developments!

While we're waiting . . .

2007-01-02T20:19:00.000-05:00

Many businesses have a phone system that lets a caller listen to music when they've been put on hold. Since this blog has been put on hold while we're waiting for our fill dirt to start arriving, I thought I'd offer a little music while we wait. For your listening pleasure, Timmy Burnette, Paul Thomas, and Justin Rhinehart. (Photo made 12/05.)

Merry Christmas Everybody!

2006-12-24T15:38:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to all from the gang at Woodland Builds!

What we're hoping to see this week . . .

2006-12-11T07:01:00.000-05:00

Experts at blogging say you have to post at least 3-4 times per week to keep your audience interested and coming back. The problem has been that there hasn't been anything going on to photograph lately. Oh, there's been plenty going on. The Design Committee has been selected, permits have been applied for, talks with real estate agents and bankers - a lot of "behind the scenes" type stuff that is necessary and important, but doesn't make for much photographic interest. (Seen any permit photos lately? Boooring!) So, I've posted an artist's conception of what it should look like when the dump trucks finally start rolling in, hopefully sometime this week. Photos of the real thing should appear soon, I hope.

Meanwhile, keep praying for the Buildings & Grounds, and Design Committees, and for Woodland's pastors and deacons. They're working hard, and the photographic evidence should start appearing soon!

I've seen a sign!

2006-11-24T16:36:00.000-05:00

Last Tuesday, while driving down Crabtree Road, I saw that a sign had been put up announcing the future location of Woodland Baptist Church. Now remember, in Scripture, signs and wonders seem to go together. So keep an eye out for what wonders begin to take place in the coming months behind this sign!

Pressing On

2006-11-20T06:09:00.000-05:00

The vote has been taken. The decision has been made. The committees are being formed. Soon the first phase of the actual construction will start. We're all a little anxious to see something actually start taking place on Crabtree Road, even if it's just that first truck load of fill dirt being dumped.

As with any construction project, much preparation has to be done before that first dump truck shows up. Woodland's leadership, and the committees elected to guide this project, are at work now. Last week, meetings were held with bankers and real estate agents to discuss marketing our current church property. Many things such as this will be taking place behind the scenes before we start to see a building begin to take shape. While we're waiting for that first dump truck to arrive, what can the rest of us do?

Pray! And keep praying. Pray for our church's leadership. Pray that God will give them the special wisdom they need at this time. Pray that they will be able to balance the demands on their time of a building project and their normal ministry responsibilities.

Pray for the committees who are meeting to plan the work that is about to begin. Pray that they will make wise choices on our church's behalf. Pray that all of us will be supportive and encouraging of their hard work and decision making.

Finally, pray that our entire church will remain enthusiastic and committed for the duration of the project. After the initial excitement about the new building subsides, much work and sacrifice will still be required by all of us. Progress may seem slow at times. There may be occasional weather related delays in the construction. Financial goals may look intimidating. However, we must keep our eyes focused on the goal that God has set before us. We must remain committed to pressing on even when the work is hard and the progress seems slow. We must keep in mind God's promises to provide everything we need to do what He's called us to do.

Progress we can see will be coming soon. Until then, keep praying. And be determined to keep pressing on.

What do you see?

2006-11-14T08:54:00.000-05:00

To most folks driving up and down Crabtree Road, this driving range probably doesn't get much notice. It's been there long enough now that it's become just another part of the background as people head to wherever they're going.

The driving range will probably attract the attention of golfers for a moment. They might look to see how busy it is right now, make a mental note of when it's open, and think about how they need to get in some practice one of these days.

To those of us who attend Woodland Baptist Church, however, this driving range now has our attention every time we drive by. It's got our attention because we see something else there, something not everyone else can see, at least not yet.

Look closely at the photo. Can you see it? Can you see a large, new building filled with worshippers of the Lord Jesus Christ? Can you see the classrooms active with boys, girls, men, and women as they study the Scriptures, learning more about their faith, their God, and how to love and serve Him better? Can you see the fellowship hall filled with Christians enjoying a meal, and rejoicing in the fellowship they share in Jesus Christ? Can you see different groups meeting to plan strategies on how to share the love of God with Haywood county and the world through evangelism, and other ministry projects? If you look closely, all these things and more should be plainly visible. No, it's not trick photography, it's just learning to see with the eyes of faith.

Can you see it yet?

"We live by faith, not by sight" 2 Corinthians 5:7

Now, the real work begins . . .

2006-11-09T08:23:00.000-05:00

That was pastor Alan Davis' remark after he announced the congregation's approval of a plan to purchase property and build a new facility on Crabtree Road. The recommendation to build was approved by 80% of those voting on Sunday, November 5, 2006. It was a historic moment for our church as we voted to step out on faith, and build a facility that will allow us to continue to grow and expand God's kingdom in Haywood county. An important decision, but as Pastor Alan stated, only a beginning.

Now, much work will need to be done by all of Woodland's members. Much planning and decision making is still ahead. Sacrifice will be required by all. We will all be asked to give of our time, talents, and finances. It will prove to be a time of testing for our church, but it is the kind of testing that can strengthen our faith, both as individuals, and as a church. If we walk by faith, we will come through the coming months not only with a new church building, but with a stronger, closer church.

Hardball

2006-10-23T07:08:00.000-04:00

The questions got a little tougher at the second Q&A session concerning the proposal for building a new church facility. There were the usual questions about how we're going to pay for this project, but this week there were more questions about the specifics of the building itself. The architectural style of the sample drawing was the subject of one of the first questions. Modern or traditional style? Do we choose beauty over efficent use of space? Should the church building design emphasize being a functional meeting place for believers, or should the design itself make a statement of our view of God? These are questions that congregations around the world have debated for centuries, and Woodland will eventually have to work these out too.

There were a few other questions about how the building would look, and how space would be utilized. Most of these details will have to be discussed and decided after we decide to go ahead with the project. There's no use in debating the color of the carpet now. The question at hand is, "Does God want us to build a new facility so that we can continue to expand His kingdom in Haywood county?" Until we discern His will on that issue, questions of design and decorating are moot.

There are already some differences of opinion on what the building should finally look like, but the discussion remained friendly and cordial throughout the evening. That's a good sign. We'll all probably have to compromise some on our preferences, especially as they pertain to how the building looks, and how it will be decorated. Our church is very diverse in age, education, and background, and all those things influence our choices. However, at this time in our church's history, what we need most is unity of purpose. We can debate about the architectural style or the furnishings, but we need to be solidly together on the conviction that God wants us to grow, build, and expand.

Face The Congregation

2006-10-16T06:14:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago, Ryan Campbell of the Feasibility Team presented their findings on investigating our options for expansion. After looking into several possibilities, their recommendation was to purchase a new property near the intersection of Crabtree Rd. and Old Clyde Rd., and build a new facility there. A packet of information detailing their findings was given to each family in the church, and members were asked to examine the information, pray for a discernment of God's will, and write down any questions they had. Two church business meetings were scheduled on consecutive Sunday evenings for those questions to be presented to the Building and Grounds committee, who is now overseeing the process. The first of those meetings was last night.

The meeting was well attended, and some very good questions were asked. The overall mood seemed to be very positive, although there seems to be a bit of trepidation about costs by some. That is to be expected on a project of this size, and is why the church was asked to be in prayer about this proposal for 40 days before voting on it. If it is determined that it is God's will that we move forward with this project, God will provide what we need to do it. This must be a faith project.

These two photos show the good crowd in attendance, and Pastor Alan and the Building and Grounds committee poised to field questions. (Click on photos to see a larger version.) It also illustrates yet another reason to build a new facility: the lighting in the current sanctuary is AWFUL. From a photographic standpoint, it is extremely dim, and has too many sources. It has a combination of incandescent, florescent, and daylight filtered through colored glass. Try taking a color photo in that mess! That's why I shot in B&W. Most people probably don't care about that, but nonetheless, the current sanctuary is just a very poorly lit space. The new building will certainly have a better quantity and quality of lighting, even if you're not a photographer.

Waiting

2006-09-19T05:37:00.000-04:00

Our church is in the initial stages of planning for a new facility. We have outgrown our current facility on Old Clyde Rd., and a committee was formed to look into the costs and options for expansion. They have finished their work, and will soon be presenting their findings to the church. Personally, I hope the church will agree that it's time to re-locate into a new facility. The costs will be a challenge, but if we are convinced that it is God's plan for Woodland to take this project on, we must step out on faith and do it.

On this photo blog, I plan to document the progress of the new construction in photographs from start to finish. I hope the photos I compile will be a visual record of faith that will be an inspiration to those members of Woodland Baptist Church who come after us.