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Religion

With faith, church still will rise

A congregation in Moon Lake hoped to have a church building by now, but it lost much of its support.

By EBONY WINDOM
Published October 22, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - The folks at Moon Lake Christian Fellowship planted a wooden cross in the ground to mark the spot where they hoped to build a sanctuary on Moon Lake Road.

That was five years ago.

Not much progress has been made. The lot is still empty.

Now after a series of delays, their plans for a new sanctuary are on hold again.

That's because a few weeks ago, the Florida Association of General Baptists cut ties with Moon Lake Christian Fellowship. When the group left, so did its financial backing.

The Baptists helped start the church in 1997. At first, a small group of neighbors would worship at the nearby civic association. Moon Lake Christian Fellowship is said to be the only church in Moon Lake.

The Baptists offered to help build Moon Lake a church of its own. The denomination bought a 11/2-acre lot in Moon Lake and drew up plans for a 100-seat sanctuary. But over the years the project faced a number of delays.

Weeks ago, the Baptists decided to abandon the project.

Over time, the group had poured $100,000 into the Moon Lake mission, and it never really took off, says Dr. H. Dean Jaggers, church planting coordinator for the Florida Association of General Baptists.

"They withdrew their support from us," said the Rev. Lad Dubovsky, 55, who recently became pastor. "We're now on our own. It's like they birthed us and then cut the umbilical cord."

That's exactly the point, Jaggers says. It's time for Moon Lake Christian Fellowship to become self-supporting, Jaggers said. Last January a church in Zephyrhills and the Florida Association of General Baptists mutually decided to split. That church is thriving, Jaggers points out.

Besides, Moon Lake Christian Fellowship is in good hands now that Dubovsky agreed to step in as pastor, Jaggers says. Dubovsky is full of energy. He lives in Moon Lake and by day works as a mental health counselor. Dubovsky doesn't get paid for his work at the church. And with Dubovsky in the pulpit old members are starting to trickle back in. "We're growing," he said. Friday nights are youth night. Neighborhood kids meet for prayer, worship and movies in Dubovsky's garage.

"(Dubovsky) feels a divine calling to that mission," Jaggers said, "and he has made an absolute commitment. That's why I think (the church has) turned around now. But it's a little too late for us."

So now Dubovsky is left to figure out a new plan for Moon Lake Christian Fellowship. They feel deserted, Dubovsky says. And now there's talk of becoming a nondenominational congregation.

"They left a whole flock of sheep standing here . . . ," he said.

". . . Holding their breath," added Mike Brown, the church's youth leader.

For now, the 50 or so members at Moon Lake Christian Fellowship still worship at the Moon Lake Civic Association. But plans to build a sanctuary are still in the works.

The church has placed a bid to buy the lot from the Florida Association of General Baptists. And their offer "has been accepted in spirit," Jaggers said. But the final decision will be made at the Florida Association of Southern Baptists' next board meeting.

Dubovsky and his members are simply not giving up.

"I believe it'll be," an original member, Marilyn Bevan, 73, said emphatically. "I think that God wouldn't let you go so far just to dump you."

Dubovsky has spearheaded a fundraising campaign. Members will continue to hold yard and bake sales to raise the $300,000 needed to build.

Last month, members hauled away 30 pews and a box of hymnals from an old church before it was razed. And another church recently offered the congregation a 15-foot steeple for the new building. They've got a pulpit, too. And a big "church" sign that lights up.

"Everything is fulfilling to be a complete church, except for the building," Dubovsky said.

If it comes down to it, the group can continue to worship at the civic association for as long as it likes. But "Moon Lake deserves a church of their own," Dubovsky said.

Most small missions would have already folded by now, Jaggers said. But Moon Lake Christian has managed to stick around for seven years.

"It's called divine confidence that it's God's will," said Jaggers.

Moon Lake Christian Fellowship offers worship at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays at the Moon Lake Civic Association, 9726 Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey. For information, call the Rev. Lad Dubovsky at (727) 505-4880.

[Last modified October 22, 2005, 01:13:18]