By Staff
GROUNDBREAKING From left, Tommy Galyean, the Rev. Ron Leonard, Raymond Fountain, Lee Martin, Johnny Brewer, Larry Miska and Barry Boatner break ground at the site of a new Family Life Center at Jones Chapel Church of God. The project is expected to be completed by 2003. Submitted photo
special to The Star
June 15, 2002
Groundbreaking services for a new Family Life Center at Jones Chapel Church of God was held recently in conjunction with the church's annual homecoming service.
For several years, the congregation has discussed building the new facility and the drawing up of final plans has been in the process during the last year. In March 2001, the church held a Capital Funds Campaign and received pledges totaling more than $260,000. "Honoring the Past … Ensuring the Future" is the project's theme.
The project is expected to be completed within the next year. The new building will be connected to the current facility and will include classrooms, a kitchen, gym and storage space. According to church officials, the new Family Life Center will be used for evangelism, outreach and fellowship in the community, which currently has several housing divisions under construction and a growing population.
The Rev. Elgin Blackwell of Lake Jackson, Texas, was guest speaker for the ceremony. Special music was provided by The Galyean Girls. Blackwell and the Galyeans grew up in the Jones Chapel church. The group includes four sisters: Annette Cook of Tuscaloosa, and Debbie Mathis, Mandy Galyean and Rachel Galyean, all of Meridian.
Following the morning service, the congregation embarked on a walk of faith to the site for the new building. The walk was led by the Rev. Ron Leonard, pastor of Jones Chapel, the Rev. Delores Bailey and the church's board of trustees. Leonard and the board members were the first to break ground.
According to Leonard and members of the congregation, the biggest blessing of the day was a man giving his life to the Lord. One member commented it was "A whole different kind of groundbreaking."
Church history
Jones Chapel's congregation traces its heritage to the late 1800s, when D.S. Warner and other leaders from the Church of God Reformation Movement came to the area preaching holiness and unity.
A new church was organized in the Spring Hill area and became known as Pine Grove Church of God. Several years later, the congregation moved to Highway 45 South and renamed the church to Jones Chapel Church of God. The church's current building was completed in 1971.
Jones Chapel Church of God is at 5880 Highway 145 South.