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Small church focuses on outreach
By JEAN JOHNSON "Our goal is to reach the family, the lost and unsaved. ... We're not interested in a fat bank account or a big house," says the pastor of Weeki Wachee Chapel. WEEKI WACHEE -- The Rev. Don Anderson said the congregation calls itself "the small church with a big heart." "We're Pentecostal in flavor and believe that the Bible is the word of God," said the pastor of Weeki Wachee Chapel. The church spun off from Brooksville Assembly of God for several reasons, Anderson said. "God told us to, number one." Another reason, said Anderson, was the open heart surgery he was to undergo. His responsibilities as assistant pastor with Assembly of God were too stressful to allow him enough time to recuperate. After careful consideration, he decided it was best to serve the Lord with a smaller church and a smaller congregation. Anderson, 65, began with a two-year outreach program in south Brooksville especially for Alcoholics Anonymous. "It was a very rewarding ministry with about 45 children who attended services and Bible study, sponsored by Brooksville Assembly of God." The church began the way many do: He offered Bible studies, requested by friends, in his home. "We got to the point where we had all these cars parked all over the lawn and had 25 people in the garage," he said. "That's when we went to Weeki Wachee water park for about six months. "We prayed about it and asked the Lord to provide a place where we could have 50 people and two restrooms and parking for 25 cars, and the Lord responded and gave us this place approximately 21/2 miles from State Road 50 on U.S. 19." Lena Meske discovered the church when she and her husband vacationed in Hernando County two years ago. "We saw the sign, stopped and talked to (the pastor) and decided to go to church there the following Sunday," said the 73-year-old snowbird, who was recently widowed. Meske said although the congregation is not large, "I have belonged to big churches and you don't get to know the people as well as when it is a smaller group. "We liked pastor Don and his wife, Annette, who are kind and loving Christian people. The sermons were excellent and the people were friendly, kind and loving, and that's what we liked." Meske said she is looking forward to attending Weeki Wachee Chapel when she winters in Brooksville. Frank Cutillo is a church elder and founding member. "We started downtown in Brooksville with Weeki Wachee Outreach in the projects working with the kids," Cutillo said. The 70-year-old, from Levittown, N.Y., said he wanted to be a part of the church because it is a "Bible-believing church, Pentecostal. We live by the Bible and believe in every word the Lord put into the Bible. Pastor Don doesn't teach what's not in the Bible," said the married father of four and grandfather of six. When asked what future endeavors he wishes for this young church, Cutillo said: "Some people look at me like I'm crazy, but whatever the good Lord wants, I want. I'd like to see it grow, but we're an outreach church and want to help people. We want to reach out and touch, not just verbally but financially and physically. "My wife, Anna, agrees with me. She has been the movement in my life and my inspiration." Ordained in 1990 by the Assembly of God, Anderson retired from the New York City Police Department. He also retired from the Florida Department of Corrections, where he served as a supervising chaplain. Anderson said he moved to Florida because his pension would not be taxed and the cost of living would allow his income to go further. "I was asked to check the property of a friend, and when I saw Spring Hill I fell in love with it." The Brookridge resident rattled off his vital statistics: "I've been married 48 years, have five children, 10 grandchildren, a son who is a police officer in New Port Richey and a granddaughter named Brooke Lynn." And bigger isn't necessarily better, he said. When the church began, there were 25 worshipers. That number hasn't changed much -- there are now 20 members listed in the records. "It's a small congregation," he said, "but I like it like that because it's more intimate. It's very difficult to administer to a big church personally. And there's always an ebb and flow with churches. "The average church in the country is 100 or less. Lots of people don't know that. For every large church there are 50 small ones, and most of the support for foreign missions comes from small churches." Mrs. Anderson is active in the women's ministry and joins her husband with home and hospital visits. She also helps to distribute food baskets at Thanksgiving. Anderson is a member of the Brooksville Ministerial Association, the Ministers-Layman's Alliance of Hernando County and the West Hernando Christian Ministerial Association. His youngest congregant is 16 and the oldest is 75. "So we have a tremendous age spread," he said. "We firmly believe in the family that prays together stays together. And we don't separate in groups; we want them all together, because children will emulate the parents. "Our goal is to reach the family, the lost and unsaved and minister to the ones we have. We're not interested in a fat bank account or a big house. We pride ourselves on having only one program, and that program is called Jesus Christ." On Sept. 9, 2001, Anderson conducted Weeki Wachee Chapel's first worship service at 8256 Commercial Way. "We have a lasting memory of our first service, remembering 9/11 just two days later," he said. "When we do our anniversary services, it is also a memorial service." If you go Weeki Wachee Chapel, 8256 Commercial Way, worships at 10:40 a.m. Sundays and has a Bible study at 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Call (352) 592-6773.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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