JOPLIN, Mo. —
For members of Generations Free Will Baptist Church, Sunday was a day of celebration and remembrance as the congregation held its first service in its new home. The previous church, at 2301 Connecticut Ave., was destroyed in the tornado on May 22, 2011.
After their original two-story church was leveled, church officials decided last year to rebuild at the same location. Some tornado-ravaged churches either opted to or had to rebuild elsewhere in the city, but for head pastor Jerald Bass, the decision to keep Generations at the same location was the one that made the most sense.
“There is some emotional stress tied to the fact that this was the only home that some of our people have ever known,” Bass said. “This is the same lot where we were before, and it’s familiar to a lot of people, but it is a brand-new building for us to worship in.”
Church members broke ground on the $1.45 million, 11,000-square-foot church last July, and Sunday marked their first service in their new home.
“This is a tremendous blessing for us,” said Beth Smith, one of the members. “It has been a long year and a half with a lot of prayer and hard work, but this has been worth it.”
Johniestet Hodges, chairman of the board of trustees for the church, said the new building serves as a reminder of the families who have built their lives around the church.
“We renamed ourselves Generations a few years back because we want families to be raised inside of the church and to know this as their home,” Hodges said. “We want our future to have a home in the past and families to continue to know a future here.”
Hodges said that while the construction was relatively quick, the congregation had help from churches across the country.
“We only came in at about 1 percent over budget,” he said. “We knew what we wanted to have done here, and we were also helped with donations from people that had heard our story. We had materials donated from other churches that had closed their doors, and part of their homes live here now.”
Bass said church officials are still working on some finishing touches.
“We haven’t put in our PA or our AV equipment, but that is coming soon,” he said. “We were just excited to get back in here and to celebrate.”
The church will hold an official opening celebration on Sunday, April 7.
Last place standing
Pastor Jerald Bass and about 20 members of Generations Free Will Baptist Church were in the church when the tornado hit, taking shelter in a classroom that survived. “We were blessed to have found the one place still left standing there,” Bass said. “God was looking out for us that day.”
Top Stories
Related Photos
-
Connie McQuillen (left) leads the choir in singing “Victory in Jesus” during services Sunday at Generations Free Will Baptist Church. The church on Connecticut Avenue was rebuilt at the same site it occupied before being destroyed by the 2011 tornado. GLOBE | RYAN RICHARDSON
Discussion
Church, destroyed in 2011 tornado, holds first service in new building
- Top Stories
-
-
Local runners show support for Boston in cross-country relay
After completing the Boston Marathon on April 15, Ashleigh Beyersdorfer made her way through the throngs of runners to retrieve the bag she had checked in and was on her way to meet up with her family when she heard the explosions.
-
Pevely woman wins $1M Powerball prize
An eastern Missouri woman is the winner of a $1 million Powerball prize.
-
MSSU board to complete terms of president’s departure
The Board of Governors of Missouri Southern State University will meet Wednesday to complete the terms of the agreement that terminated President Bruce Speck’s contract, board Chairwoman Sherry Buchanan said.
-
Proposal would reduce 20th Street to two lanes
A design proposal that would convert much of 20th Street into two lanes instead of four from Main Street to Campbell Parkway to make room for streetscape and green features did not draw much public support on Tuesday.
-
State’s key witness testifies in murder trial
The fate of Dustin Boggs may ultimately depend on the credibility of Arturo Council. If jurors believe Council, then Boggs, 25, could be convicted of first-degree murder in the 2012 stabbing and shooting death of his ex-girlfriend, Danyel Borden, 21, at his trial this week in Ottawa County District Court.
-
Swimmers attempt to set world record
Even before the instructor had finished giving his direction to the class of young swimmers, 4-year-old Alexa DeBerry had dunked herself underwater and had come up giggling.
-
Joplin City Council to move forward on $130 million recovery proposal; curbside recycling election resurrected
Residents kept the house packed to the end of a 2 1/2-hour meeting of the Joplin City Council on Monday night to encourage the panel to resurrect some kind of curbside recycling proposal and to hear the details or support a $130 million recovery plan.
-
Board chairwoman: Bruce Speck out as MSSU president
Bruce Speck is “no longer president” of Missouri Southern State University, the Board of Governors disclosed Monday. The announcement was made late Monday afternoon following a unanimous vote taken during a closed board meeting Friday.
-
Joplin to proceed with $130 million recovery plan, recycling election
The Joplin City Council on Monday night agreed to go forward with formal consideration of a $130 million recovery plan and revived a bill to hold an April vote of the people on the question of whether to institute curbside recycling.
-
Swimmers join worldwide effort to try for world record
A group of youngsters was part of a worldwide attempt Tuesday to set a record for the world’s largest swimming lesson.
- More Top Stories Headlines
-
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
