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Churches look back, then forward
© St. Petersburg Times INVERNESS -- With 2002 coming to a close, here is an update on some of the stories reported on earlier in the year. In January, Crossroad Baptist Church, at the corner of U.S. 41 and Eden Drive in Inverness, opened its doors. Pastor Terry Roberts attributes local newspaper articles and door-to-door invitations to a successful first service; thirty-two people attended. "We continue, at this time, to average about 25 on Sunday mornings and occasionally have over 30," Roberts said recently. "Many have come, some have stayed and some have gone. We wish all would stay who visit, but we are trusting God to build this church, his church." Roberts said being independent, fundamental and conservative in doctrine as well as being a small church explains why all who visit do not stay. "We are encouraged by the group of faithful attenders who are now much more than attenders. They are our friends, our church family," he said. "We are grateful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all his blessings to us and all those who have contributed to make this year a success. We look expectantly to the New Year 2003." The church has plans to officially organize on Jan. 19 with 16 charter members. That will also be the church's anniversary Sunday. Plans for the day include special music, preaching and a potluck dinner on the grounds. Church services are at 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday and at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Roberts said a 9:30 a.m. Sunday school will be added next year and plans include having revivals, special preaching conferences and music events with various conservative singing groups. Roberts said he wants people to know that although the church looks small from the outside, it can hold 60 people. "We need some pioneer families with children to come," Roberts said. "Come and check us out. Maybe we are the church where God wants you to be." For more information on the church, call 726-0201. After three years of raising funds, the Rev. Leroy Bellamy saw the dedication of his debt-free new church building last April. Much of the Citrus County church community donated money and labor to help Bellamy realize his dream of adding a larger building to Grace Temple Church of the Living God in Floral City. Bellamy said there is more to come. "It's been going good, real good," he said. "The year's winding up and the people have been so nice, so good, and still is. But I do want to get something going here. We have some things coming up in the new year." Bellamy said he wants his church to buy a piece of adjacent property with hopes of eventually adding a day care center. "I just believe if I can get that going early in the year, that in three years, I think, we'll have children running all over the place," he said. Neither age nor health concerns seem to slow the 89-year-old preacher's vision for his ministry. "I don't believe the good Lord's through with me yet, and I believe the people will help me," he said. "I've got another dream going." Another building that is being constructed debt free is the Christian Adventure Ranch on Jasmine Lane in Inverness. In July, volunteers helped dry in the building, which is a ministry of Calvary Bible Church. "Now we are working on the inside, the plumbing, electrical and drywall," said Lisa Cannon, wife of the church pastor. "We are paying as we go in order not to incur any debt. This month our church will be paying off the original mortgage on our church building, making Calvary Bible Church completely debt free. With that mortgage out of the way, we will be able to concentrate more on finishing the new ranch building." Currently, the church is having youth meetings in the youth building at 7 p.m. each Thursday. "A good number of teens have been coming out for that, about 20 to 30 each week," Mrs. Cannon said. "Also on Saturday nights, starting at 7:30, the building is open for those who want to come to play pool, computer games, basketball and more." For information on the youth ranch, call 344-8331. Stan Stewart will be making a return trip to Russia in March. He visited there last spring to attend the seminary graduation of his friend, Denis Khokhlov. Stewart, who is the senior pastor of Northoak Baptist Church in Citrus Springs, said he will teach a class on practical pastoring at the seminary in Zaokski for a week while there. "It will be a real intensive thing," he said. "Then I'll be preaching down south in the republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. That's the most southern republic in Russia. That's where Denis is." Khokhlov is pastoring a congregation of about 40 people in Prokhladnyy. Stewart will preach in Khokhlov's Seventh-day Adventist church as well as a Baptist church there. "It's one of the poorest parts of Russia," Stewart said. "It's an interesting area. There are a lot of Korean people there and, of course, Muslims." Stewart said he talks on the phone to Khokhlov, whom he considers like a son, once a week. "He's happy there. He gets very lonely because his family is about 1,000 miles away and, of course, it's costly for him to travel. This is his first Christmas and New Year's that he's by himself. He stays busy in the days, but the nights are lonely for him." Khokhlov will translate for Stewart while at the seminary and will be with him for the entire visit. "They're giving him a kind of three-week sabbatical from his responsibility at the church. For the time being, he's given up on coming back here. "He still hopes to come back at some point in time, but he's pretty busy right now with his church, and it would be an impossibility for him to leave at this point in time. They have a real shortage of pastors over there." Khokhlov checks his e-mail about once a week at the town's one Internet cafe, but it's expensive, Stewart said. His church is raising money to send to Khokhlov to buy a computer. "We'd be happy to take any donations from people following Denis' story," Stewart said. "A computer will be helpful to him in his ministry. Everything that he does now, as far as putting out anything to the church people, is all hand written. He has no typewriter. The church has nothing. It's like back in the days that you and I can't even remember much about." To contribute to the computer fund for Khokhlov, call Stewart at 746-1500.
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