Village Church: The Beginnings: A Story Worth Telling

By Edgar Williams

You want to get in on the ground floor, do you? That is to say you want to build a church from the ground up. No problem. It's doable. But only if you first believe that the impossible and perhaps the improbable is indeed possible. There are no guidelines to tell you step by step on how you go about this mission for the Almighty. If you have a relatively small congregation with no millionaires and frankly no big-income earners, you could find yourself- no, you will find yourself with challenges that are certain to give you pause. Doubt could double down on your expectations. In that case, are you sure you want to be in on the ground floor? Of course, you might, but how about the people? Can you keep them motivated over whatever time it takes? Can you encourage them to give, give, give? Can you explain why things aren't going faster than they are? Many people are excited by the fact that their congregation which has no church building is going to build one. After all, very few structures that can be afforded are on the market. You know that because you tried. If you tried and failed to buy something already in existence, then what option do you have? If you're excited about having a church, the only option is to build. It might be impossible, but we don't believe that. It might be improbable, but we don't believe that. After all, we believe that all things are possible to those who believe. Belief can take a beating when things just don't go like you wanted them to go. When you made your pitch to the bank and you presented them with number you thought they would fall in love with and they didn't, what then? Surely, they could see that your plan was sound, and that they could depend on your character to pay them back. When you leave the bankers with your head hung down, is there a plan B? Nobody told you about being in existence for ten years before the bank would talk seriously with you. But muttering and complaining just won't do. What are you going to tell the eager congregation who await your good news about building the church? You tell them the truth and keep it moving. God would make a way somehow.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098036188

Book preview

cover.jpg

Village Church

The Beginnings: A Story Worth Telling

Edgar L. Williams Jr.

Copyright © 2020 by Edgar L. Williams Jr.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

A Faith Journey

Out of Uhr into the Unknown

Another World

Nomad Madness

Promised Land: It’s Angel Time

Our Land: Angel Time Moving Forward

Bank Financing: Still Angel Time

The Building: Angels on the Move

Pre-Building/Building Challenges: Angel Intervention

Building the Building: Angels Still Working

Just Trying to Get In: Final Game on Angels

Just Trying to Get In: Final Game on Angels

In loving memory of my father, Dr. Edgar L. Williams Sr. and to my mother, Gladys D. Williams and to my wife, Pamela Hall Williams, who stood by me through it all.

Acknowledgments

This book is the product of my experiences in working to build a church, both physical and spiritual. It is an account of dedicated people with the faith to transform vision into reality. There are many who strove with me in what I’ll call a spiritual journey. There are too many names to call, but those who I would be remiss in not mentioning the following: Jacquelyn Simmons, Church Administrative Assistant Trustees Wayne Andrews, Samuel Simmons, Valerie Matthews, Ralph Wormley, Laurice Yarn, Frankie Copeland, and Joyce Leach. Without these individuals, this journey could not have been realized.

There are several others that I feel compelled to mention. Our architect, Bill Verebly; our contractor, J. Hoy. Reverend Leslie Smith, and Tawanda Smith, who acted as our legal assistant; and Montrell James, who provided a spark for meaningful action. I am grateful to each for the part each played in our journey.

Introduction: A Faith Journey

A Faith Journey

It’s been twenty-two years now since we began this enterprise called Village Church. Village Church has not always been its name. It started out as Village Baptist Church with roots in the Baptist tradition. Nothing has been written about our journey by me until now because it’s just been difficult to sit down and recount our story. I believe our story is one that is worth telling for those who strive to do a work for the Lord under what seems like improbable, if not, impossible circumstances. No doubt there are many who have started as we started and have foundered along the way for one reason or another. It falls to me to try to recount our story. Unique in some respects but very recognizable in others.

My purpose for sharing is to provide a history and to let all who set out on a similar path know that the way may not be easy, but with God’s help, even greater things than we have done can be accomplished.

Chapter 1

Out of Uhr into the Unknown

In 1992, I had become affiliated with a Baptist church which would ultimately