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| | | (PHOTOS BY HATCHER HURD/www.northfulton.com)
Lisa and Cameron Hoxie talk with state Rep. Mark Hamilton, R-Cumming, at the reception after the sanctuary dedication. (click for larger version) | |
March 19, 2008
Johns Creek Baptist's journey just beginning
When The Rev. William Self left the Wieuca Baptist Church – a hugely successful church in Atlanta – to take on the duties of senior pastor at Johns Creek Baptist Church, it probably had some folks scratching their heads.
The Wieuca pulpit was and is a highly coveted – if one may use such a word about preachers – position, and here was the personable, erudite and charming Bill Self leaving to taken on a new church out in the Boonies – that's boonies with a capital "B."
The church was moving from Chamblee because the people were leaving. They had an offer from Johns Creek Technology Park, which values strong institutions as community-building pillars, and Technology Park wanted to build a community that would last out there.
Well, we all look for challenges, and Reverend Bill was looking for a new challenge, although I'm sure he would use the word "calling." You see, they had big plans to build a $45 million campus out there on McGinnis Ferry Road. That was their plan from the beginning 17 years ago.
And so he joined the vision that was to become Johns Creek Baptist Church.
Now I've only been covering North Fulton for 15 years, and I admit, I didn't get out much on McGinnis Ferry Road. But then we started a little paper called the Johns Creek Herald, and about a year later we had the Forsyth Herald. And I started spending a lot of time on McGinnis.
So the first of four planned buildings (the chapel) was up when I first went out to visit Reverend Bill. His charming, easy manner immediately, well, charmed me. He laid out the church's plans, and ambitious plans they were. In addition to the chapel, there would be a children's building, a gymnasium/meeting facility and finally a sanctuary.
I went a couple of weeks ago to the dedication of the last phase, the sanctuary. It was a great day. When I first went to visit Reverend Bill, there just a nice chapel and a whole lot of empty land. Now it is a bustling community with activities every day of the week.
There are Sunday school classes, choir suites and a kitchen that feeds 400 people on Wednesday nights.
He is proud of the outdoor playing fields, too.
"When we have soccer, I don't even know how many kids are out there," Revevernd Bill said.
He is quick to point out there were a host of church members who made this all happen. Two in particular are Tommy Boland, the chairman of the building committee who before he retired was chairman of Wachovia Bank Corp. of Georgia and served as the church's treasurer for more than 50 years, and Tom Jack and Equifax executive.
"They raised the money and got it built, and I took care of the preaching," he said. "We had a couple of recessions and 9-11, but what impressed me was the congregation stayed right with it."
Reverend Bill wants to stay on and take the church to "the next level." No, they don't need anymore buildings. He is talking about the mission of the church and bringing more souls into it.
Now I have done a lot of stories about Johns Creek Baptist Church. I was fascinated by what they were trying to do out there. When President Jimmy Carter came to speak, I was there. And when the church wanted to mark Dr. Self and his bride's 50th wedding anniversary and they expanded it to honor every couple in the church that had made that milestone, I came again.
So when the good reverend says this is the beginning for this church and not an end, I believe him. I expect good things of this church, because it has never failed a challenge yet.
- www.northfulton.com
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