By Staff
BRICK BY BRICK – Henry Emerson, foreground, lays bricks on the front of the educational building for New Harvest Church. The work is the first phase of a building project for the Collinsville church; the structure also will include a fellowship hall. It is the church's first building since it began in 1993. PHOTO by paula merritt / The Meridian Star
By Ida Brown / religion editor
October 19, 2002
When the congregation of New Harvest Church in Collinsville observes its 10th anniversary in February, the setting for the milestone celebration will be equally significant.
Phase 1 of a building project is currently in the works and is expected to be completed in February. The 50-foot by 75-foot structure will be the church's first building since its inception.
For more than nine years, services have been held in the old Antioch Methodist Church building in the Martin Community.
History
New Harvest Church organized in February 1993 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. A.D. Linton on Pine Springs Road. More than 90 people were present.
The Rev. David Dewease was chosen as pastor and continues to serve in this capacity. According to Dewease, many of the church's members came from Baptist backgrounds however other denominations also were represented.
For five years, New Harvest has sponsored a children's outreach ministry, which is among its most successful projects.
Time for a place
of their own
As membership continued to grow, the need for a new building became more urgent, Dewease said.
A building committee was elected: Donnie Daniels, A.D. Linton, JoCarol Livingston, Bobby Pinkham, Janet Pinkham, Barbara Singleton, Chris Smith, Mickey Thompson, Pam Thompson, Nan Townsend and Ronald Warren.
The committee decided to first build an educational building that also included fellowship hall space.
A little more than a year ago, the church purchased 7.5 acres in Collinsville. The land originally was owned by the Collinsville United Methodist Church (which moved down the street) and included a house that served as the parsonage.
The new building at 9088 Church Road will include an open area for the fellowship hall, four classrooms, two restrooms and a storage area.
Two of the classrooms will eventually be converted into a kitchen once the sanctuary has been built. Foundation work was completed by Willie Adams, an area contractor. Most of the inside work will be completed by the congregation.
Funding for the project was secured through contributions.
Once the debt has been paid for the first phase of the building project, a sanctuary will be constructed in front of the new building.