Happy 25th Anniversary WCC!
Over 25 years ago, on Sunday, November 17, 1991, we held an organizational meeting in our home to discuss the idea of planting a church. We invited around 40 people to attend. Fifteen people came. At the end of the meeting, I handed out index cards asking those present to express their commitment to be a part of a church plant. Ten people committed to help. We agreed to name the church, Wilson Community Church.
On Sunday, December 8, 1991, we held the first small group meeting in our home. We invited the fifteen from the first meeting to attend, plus all those we had invited before. Five people came. Counting Robin and I, that made seven people. But we weren’t discouraged. We kept meeting weekly and the Lord kept adding to our number.
By mid January 1992, our first small group had grown to three groups. We averaged around 26 adults in weekly attendance between the three groups. So, we decided to launch a Sunday morning worship service. We thought renting a school would make for a good location. After visiting several schools around Wilson, we felt that Forest Hills Middle School had the best visibility and the most functional auditorium for our needs.
I still remember going to FHMS to ask the principal about renting the auditorium. My friend, Larry Etheridge, who is now with the Lord, went with me. We had all three of our small groups praying that week for a successful meeting. But the principal was not encouraging. He first told us that school policy wouldn’t allow him to rent to a church. So, I asked if he could show us the policy. He pulled the policy manual down off of his shelf and turned to the page about renting to outside groups. I noticed him raise an eyebrow as he started to read aloud. It turned out that the school actually had a policy on how to rent the auditorium, cafeteria, and other parts of the school to outside groups, including churches!
“Well…” He said. “It really doesn’t matter what the policy is. You still have to have a member of the school staff open and close the building every Sunday. And I don’t think any of our staff will want to do that.”
“What about the custodians?” I asked.
“Hah! I have a hard enough time getting them to open the building on nights and weekends for school events. I’m sure they won’t help.”
“May I ask them personally?” I questioned.
“Not today. They’re busy today. If you’ll come back tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM, we actually have a meeting with all the custodians, so they’ll all be here.”
“OK. I’ll be back tomorrow morning.” I said.
That evening, we had all of our people praying for the meeting with the custodians. I couldn’t sleep.
At 7:30 AM the next morning, I went into the office at FHMS to meet with the custodians. The principal started leading me to the room where all the custodians were gathered.
“May I meet with them alone?” I asked the principal.
“Sure, if you want.” He replied, with a shrug of his shoulders.
When I entered the room with the custodians there were three of them present. As they looked up, I closed the door behind me and sat in a circle with them. I told them about our church and about our desire to meet at FHMS on Sundays. I also told them that the principal had told me that they wouldn’t help me, but that we had a whole church of people praying and I knew that they would help.
So, I pulled out a calendar and passed it to the first custodian and said, “If you can help, please write your name on the Sundays that you’re willing to open and close for us.”
One of the custodians said that he couldn’t help, but the other two, and I still remember their names, Mr. Barnes and Mr. McGhee, took the calendar, and between the two of them, covered every Sunday for the next three months. I hugged them and thanked them. And then, went back to the principal and showed him the calendar.
“Hmm… well, I guess you’ll be wanting to rent then.”
“Yes sir. We will.” I replied.
We launched our first public worship service in the FHMS auditorium on January 26, 1992 . We had 66 people attend our first service. Little did we know that day that we would be renting FHMS for the next 15 years.
After 19 years of doing portable church, 15 at FHMS and 4 years at Community Christian School, we purchased the former Regal Cinema in September 2010. We remodeled much of the building, turned one of the six theaters into our worship space and started meeting for worship there on May 1, 2011.
Looking back on 25 years of ministry, there’s so much to remember and be thankful for. But I mostly remember the little things, the days of small beginnings, and how God has faithfully built His church as we were faithful to be His church.
The rest is history! So much to thank God for! So many lives changed! Glory to God! Keep walking with Jesus, and enjoy the journey.
Thank you Larry! You’ve been a gospel partner with us for most of the way!
I kept the nursery for our first service at FHMS. That day I found a church home and family! We only pushed forward and never looked back! I still cannot believe it has been 25 years! Thank you Gary for listening to the Lord and planting our church. Thank you Robin for always supporting Gary. And thank you Stephen, Jonathan, and Erin for all of the sacrifices you had to make over the years, and for each tote, stand, and musical instrument you helped to load and unload every week. Bertha was even loyal to the end! Thank you Lord for speaking to Gary. I don’t know who I would be without my wonderful church family. I love WCC!
I am so grateful to be a part of God’s family at Wilson Community Church. I arrived in the Spring of 2001, a new believer and Bible illiterate. Almost 16 years later, my life has been transformed by the discipleship I’ve received. I am not the same woman who walked through the door all those years ago. I thank God for what he has accomplished through the obedience of the Combs family and the faithful staff at WCC. May God continue to bless you and use you to further Christ’ kingdom on earth.