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Religion

Church's prayers to acquire property finally answered

The pastor and members of a Baptist church faced many struggles in buying their property.

By WAVENEY ANN MOORE
Published October 12, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Two and a half years ago, shortly after a Childs Park church closed, the Rev. Frank Peterman Jr., a state representative, asked his mother and a few other women to pray that his congregation would get the property.

The women, the Saints of Prayer, circled the grounds, praying and "anointing" it for Peterman's fledgling Rock of Jesus Missionary Baptist Church. Things did not turn out as hoped. A private school and another church moved to the property and Peterman's small congregation faced an uncertain future.

Two weeks ago, though, the congregation finally got the property at 3940 18th Ave. S. A dedication service was held days later and about eight African-American pastors from St. Petersburg and elsewhere in Florida offered blessings for the new facility. A tribute was also offered to Peterman's mother, who died before her prayers were answered.

"My mother is all over this project," Peterman said recently as he sat in his office at the new church. "We wanted folks to understand how important she was in terms of how she followed Christ."

His mother, Peggy Peterman, had retired as a St. Petersburg Times editorial writer and served as assistant pastor at his church. Mother and son were ordained together in 2002. Later the state representative was installed pastor at Rock of Jesus, a year-old congregation then known by a different name.

At the time, the congregation of about seven or eight members rented space at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 4201 Sixth St. S. When the Presbyterian church closed, Peterman's growing congregation could not afford to buy the property. Instead, it was purchased by another congregation, which allowed Peterman to share the space. The arrangement proved problematic. Service times had to be changed and some members drifted away.

"It was a very trying time," said Peterman, 43.

"I asked the church to fast and pray and by the power of God and the blood of Jesus Christ, God delivered us. We came here," he said.

Initially, Rock of Jesus sublet the Childs Park property from former City Council candidate Marva Dennard. She, in turn, leased it from its Tarpon Springs owner and used part of the property for a private school. After three months on the property, Rock of Jesus got an agreement to buy it for $475,000. The closing was Sept. 26.

"God just did a miraculous thing over a short time," Peterman said.

His church of more than 150 members draws about 70 to 75 people for 10:30 a.m. Sunday services, Peterman said. The property Rock of Jesus now owns once was occupied by Childs Park United Methodist Church. It closed in 2002, after decades in what has come to be viewed as a troubled community. But Peterman said it is "not by happenstance" that his congregation has landed in Childs Park.

"The dream is to create a community of faith and service in the Childs Park area and to bring people to Christ, or bring them back to Christ," he said.

Peterman, who is married and has four children, is serving his third term in the District 55 legislative seat. His ministry and family take priority over politics, he said.

He will, however, run for his seat again, the Democrat said, "because there is much ministry to be done in the area of government."

What will come next, he's not sure. "I'm just trying to hear from God. God was the person who called me to ministry," he said.

[Last modified October 12, 2005, 00:19:18]