Foundations of Faith (6)
Of Classrooms and Kitchens
In September of 1994, Pastor James Nipper became the sixth pastor of Our Saviour Lutheran Church. He came from All Saints Lutheran Church in Huntsville, Alabama. His wife, Mary Alice, an elementary teacher, and their three children, Jennifer, Hannah, and David, moved quickly that fall in order to get settled into their new schools. Mary Alice would eventually secure a teaching job with the first grade at the Fairmont Elementary School, not far from the church.
Almost immediately, Pastor Nipper began a neighborhood visitation program, along with a number of Bible studies for spiritual growth opportunities as well as a seasonal Wednesday morning Eucharist (Advent and Lent) to help strengthen people' s mid-week worship experiences.
1995 was a very busy year for Our Saviour in many ways. For a number of years there had been a fund to renovate the kitchen, and that fund had reached a point where the realization of improvements were looking more and more like reality.
As our Sunday School ministry began to grow, the need for more classroom space was obvious.
Heading Toward the Kitchen
Out of the graciousness of many who really wanted to improve the kitchen, they recognized the greater need for the moment of improving the Christian Education facilities of the congregation. They decided to pool all their resources and support the building of Sunday School rooms in the downstairs unfinished basement. This was done in 1995, with dedication of the downstairs space celebrated with Bishop Ron Warren on June 18, 1995. Mr. Ken Fisher was chairman of the Renovation Committee.
1995 was an interesting year in the sense of church membership. There were 19 baptisms done in that one year (and not all were infants!). In the first three years of Pastor Nipper's tenure, 48 baptisms were done!
The kitchen -- important as it was -- would have to wait. Now that the educational needs had been met, it was time to begin to focus on the needs of fellowship and potential outreach with a newly designed kitchen. In years prior, a third Wednesday each month had been designated (begun during Pastor Lyerly's time) as "Family Night" where a meal was served and a program was presented. The meal was prepared lovingly by The House of Ribs, owned by Ben and Janice Garrison, and John and Janice Garrison. Each night a free-will offering was received, and that money was beginning to accumulate some "wealth!" As the church grew, would we be able soon to do more renovation to keep up with the needs of the growing community around us?
