The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer, Publisher/Owner
In the small community of Terre Haute in Henderson County, children are enjoying Vacation Bible school in a new location this year, while seeing a dream come true for their church.
According to Gary and Sherry Butler, co-chairs of the Terre Haute Methodist Church building project, it has been a dream of their church members for a long time to improve the church facilities in some way.
And though it is a little premature of their July 25th deadline when a wedding reception is scheduled in the new building, members decided to move this year's Vacation Bible School into the new building this week rather than hold it in garages as in the past few years.
The new facility is a 5200 square foot one-story building situated just south behind the present sanctuary.
Before its ground breaking September 2001, the 90-member church of which at least 60 attend regularly, raised almost all the money needed for labor and to buy the material for the building.
Much of the actual work is being done by members rolling up their sleeves and doing what needs to be done. It's actually the way the church has functioned for years.
"A cooperative spirit is always there," Sherry said. "No one ever really seeks to get their own way. They just have a common goal."
"Even in little things, for instance, if one liked one door and someone liked another, we would talk it over and after the discussion we would come to a mutual agreement. There is no complaining afterwards."
She said that, "All ages have been very much involved and excited over helping and being a part of the planning, construction, and finishing.
"There has just been a lot of help and enthusiasm," she said.
Several professionals were hired to do the difficult tasks that the volunteers couldn't do, but much work has also been done by the church members.
The new building houses 4 class rooms, an office, a large foyer, two restrooms, a large kitchen and a dining room that seats over 125.
Sunday school at the church now serves 24 youth and around 15 or so adults each week using the former parsonage next door, the basement and an upstairs room behind the sanctuary. The new classrooms in the new hall have long been needed.
Besides wedding receptions, and Bible School, the new building will be used for funeral dinners, fund raising meals, activities for youth and for adults, for family night, and for outside organizations.
"The 4-H clubs will continue to meet there," she said.
The present church was built in the early 1890s and a kitchen in the basement was added in the 1940s, Sherry thought.
Because of the need to move the dining area out of the basement, to improve restrooms, to make all areas handicapped accessible, and to build Sunday School rooms, the church members began setting money aside for a project.
"We had saved for quite a few years before we really starting planning a facility," Sherry said. "A study committee was formed in 1997 and started exploring different options we had."
The church had an architect design a building in two phases so if down the road they ever wanted to expand the building with a new sanctuary, they could.
The new building is usable, but not quite finished. Carpet and shelving is in but not yet installed. Counter tops in the kitchen and dividers between stalls in the bathrooms are soon to arrive. Bathroom fixtures are there but need to be installed.
Memorial money just came in to purchase folding doors for the long serving window between the kitchen and dining area.
"It's coming together," Sherry said.
And already, the upcoming weeks will be busy.
After vacation Bible School there will be the July 25 wedding reception, preparing of salads for another wedding, bridal showers, and the Terre Haute church annual fish fry the first Thursday in August on the 7th.
"The fish fry will be held in the new building this year which usually draws 350 people or more."
Dennis Brooks, pastor of the La Harpe, Durham and Terre Haute churches, who has been here since 1995, will be leaving the end of June to be closer to his elderly father. The 3 churches will be receiving a new pastor, Steve Blair, a recent graduate.
This Sunday, a farewell potluck is planned for Pastor Dennis after church in La Harpe.
The Church is planning a dedication during worship on June 29th on Pastor Dennis' last day of service for the new fellowship hall. An Open House for the public will be announced later.
Diane Painter teachers inside one of four new classrooms in the new fellowship hall located behind the Terre Haute United Methodist Church. Teachers said it is nice to have doors and walls rather than curtains between classrooms and to be away from flooding basements.
Pastor Dennis Brooks helps Mrs. Anita Ziegler and Mrs. Diane Painter with closing exercises Tuesday at Vacation Bible School.
Walking from the front door of the new Terre Haute fellowship hall, near completion, it's a short walk back to the Terre Haute Methodist Church built in the early 1890s. It's the second building of a congregation that was organized in 1850, 4 years before the town was surveyed, platted and recorded (March of 1854).
The new fellowship hall is a dream come true for its 90-member church.