More Than Paint: How We Brought Our Sanctuary Back to Life
If you had walked into our sanctuary a year ago, you would have felt the history. You’d have felt the weight of countless sermons, songs, and prayers that filled the space. But you also would have felt the years. The dark, brown paneling seemed to soak up the light , and the old, hard pews had served their time faithfully. Our church has always been full of light and life, and we dreamed of a space that truly reflected that spirit.
We knew it was time for a change. And let me tell you, it was a labor of love from the very start. This wasn't a project we handed off to a contracting company; it was a project we took on ourselves, as a family. Our own Robert Barnes and his son-in-law were the champions of the project, spending hour after hour painting.
The toughest jobs became moments of incredible fellowship. I don’t think any of us will ever forget the sight of our members, and even friends from outside the church, working shoulder-to-shoulder to pull up the old pews and tackle the ridiculously stubborn, glued-down carpet. It took heat guns, pry bars, and a whole lot of prayer, but with every piece of old carpet we pulled up, it felt like we were letting more light in.
This was a true community effort, and we want to give a special thanks to the hands that made it happen:
Removing of the old pews: Curtis Harper, Aaron Handy, Dan Bradley, Garry Bryant, Robert Barnes, and Pastor Tony Davis.
Carpet removal: Aaron Handy, Ron Hill, Robert Barnes, and Garry Bryant.
New Chairs Installation: Garland Green, Robert Barnes, Aaron Handy, and Pastor Tony Davis.
Painting: Purman Jones, Robert Barnes, Aaron Handy, and Prince Bain.
Then, the transformation truly began. A beautiful, soft gray paint called "shark fin" covered the old paneling, complemented by brilliant, clean white trim. When we finally replaced the old bulbs with new, bright LED lights, the change was breathtaking. Someone joked that you needed sunglasses to come in, and they weren't far off! Seeing the congregation’s donations come to life in the form of comfortable, plush new chairs was the final, beautiful touch.
The most incredible part of this whole journey has been the people. Seeing the joy on the faces of our members as they walked in for the first time was something I’ll never forget. We’ve had former members hear about the changes and come back to visit, their faces lighting up as they see the renewed space. The church is buzzing with a new kind of energy, and the transformation has been so well-received that we've begun making our beautiful new sanctuary available for community events. If you're looking for a bright, welcoming space for a special occasion, you can learn more and inquire by filling out this form.
This renovation was a reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together. We’re already dreaming about what’s next—the dining hall, the sound room, and maybe even restoring our historic old steeple bell. These future projects are dreams we hope to make a reality with our community's continued support. If you feel moved by our story and want to contribute to the next chapter of our church's renewal, you can give securely here.
This wasn't just about renovating a building; it was about renewing our spirit. Our doors, now a beautiful bright red, are more open than ever. We invite you to come and feel the light for yourself by joining us for a service on Sunday morning or our Bible study on Wednesday night. If you feel like you've found a home here, we would be overjoyed to talk with you about becoming a member of our church family.
We’d love for you to be a part of our story.
