We bought a church

 We bought a church.

Yes, it does seem ridiculous even to us.  We bought a church.

This adventure began around the Christmas holidays this year.  My family mentioned that my childhood church may be sold or torn down.  On a whim, I said that we might want to buy it.  My family was supportive, but they also asked the question that everyone seems to want to know, "What are you going to do with it?".

We moved on after the holidays with a very busy spring and didn't really think much of it again, except occasionally asking if anyone in the family had heard anything more.  We got serious about asking around May and my brother encouraged me to call the pastor of the church.

By chance, there was a meeting scheduled the following Monday to discuss the future of the church.  I made our interest in purchasing and restoring the building known and was promised a return call after the meeting.

We were asked to submit our proposal in writing and to state our interest a intentions.  We also had the chance to travel down and do a walk through.

 It is really hard to explain the beauty of this place.  Dedicated on June 4, 1911, the church has stood witness to baptisms, wedding, funerals and Sunday services until last year when the congregation moved to the community building.  The move was for good reasons - the church has no running water and the restrooms are a two-seater outhouse, the entry is not handicapped accessible, and the building needs some repairs.

 We entered into the purchase with eyes wide open.  It needs work.  But, we thought it would be a wonderful challenge and we feel this tremendous need to preserve this building as a place of community.

We have never seen a church with the seats as individual chairs, not pews or benches.  There is also a beautiful arch to the seats and in the overflow area at the back, the seats are elevated from front to back to give the people in the back the best view.  Brilliant!

We have a lot more to share about the historical research we have gathered, the last service under the Lebo/Olivet United Methodist leadership, and our plans.

Please stay tuned.  Send us prayers and ideas.  We are so excited to begin the real part of the adventure, the hardest part, making good on our promise to restore this beautiful place.