On Sunday, June 4, the members and friends of the Franklin Heights Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, Virginia, entered their new sanctuary for the first time. It was a moment which was long anticipated. When 6-year-old Cassidy James Anderson entered the magnificent new space, she was all eyes. When she found a pew, she turned and looked at her grandfather and said, “Papa, it's just like a miracle!”
The large arena-style comfortable and expansive sanctuary with its wide balcony and sweeping choir loft was the answer to a great need, as the congregation had outgrown its former sanctuary which was built 30 years ago. The new area can seat between 1,200 and 1,300 persons, depending upon whether they eat fast food at McDonald's or Subway, according to Mark Griffith, a good-humored staff member in charge of education and outreach. Below the sanctuary, there was an even more amazing area of classrooms, recreational areas and a music suite.
The church is known for its outstanding music program, which is under the direction of Ken Richardson. The choir loft holds about 60 and the platform is large enough to accommodate an orchestra of some 25 pieces. Video screens added the dimension of the visual, as the prelude time included beautiful scenes of God's handiwork in nature. They were used in the service instead of the hymnals.
A magnificent stained-glass window, interpretative of the cross, was the focal point above the baptistery. It was designed and executed by a talented artist, Amanda Donley. She had conferred with a small committee and the pastor as she conceived the design; and obviously it was in keeping with the pastor's vision.
Pastor Larry Holland used the window as the inspiration for his first sermon in the new quarters. He preached on “The Costly Cross,” based upon Matthew 16:24-26; and as he unfolded the message, it became clearer that there really were two crosses in the window — the old rugged cross of Jesus and the cross which each believer must be willing to bear.
The little girl was right. The building is something of a miracle in Franklin County. In June 2003 the church entered a “Time to Build” campaign with a fundraising effort to secure a substantial amount before beginning construction. In a short time the church had received $2.5 million in gifts and pledges. The total cost is some $6.2 million, which included the purchase of additional land. The facility encompasses some 52,000 square feet, making it one of the largest church houses east of Roanoke.
Franklin Heights Church began in October 1958 with 14 people meeting in the basement of the home of Rita and Sam Collins. It was a mission of the Rocky Mount Baptist Church. The developers of a new subdivision donated land for a church plant. The mission became a duly constituted church on April 3, 1960, with 64 charter members. The first two pastors were Robert Estes, 1959-61, and Winston Parker, 1961-67.
In June 1967, J. Larry Holland began what is one of the more remarkable and lengthy pastorates among Virginia Baptists. In the beginning, he led the church in a building program which resulted in a pre-school and children's area. The membership was 183 in 1967 and the church has experienced phenomenal growth. In 10 years, it doubled and then it kept increasing until it reported 1,236 in 2005. Larry Holland is an evangelist's evangelist. In the 39 years of Holland's pastorate, the church has reported 667 baptisms. He also is a pastor's pastor. He majors on pastoral care and visitation.
The church has grown in missions and outreach. During the Holland pastorate, a church bus was purchased, a family life center constructed, an Hispanic ministry started and a food pantry and clothes closet provided. Members have engaged in hands-on missions.
And now the miracle of the new sanctuary and its additional educational and music space.
Thirty years ago, a younger Pastor Holland shared his conception of church. He said: “I want a church with a warm heart, a church that cares, one that seeks to heal hurt lives. I want the church to endeavor to comfort the elderly but also to challenge the youth. It should be a worshipping church but also a working church. It must have as its message the Cross of Christ and the Bible as its source of authority. When these ingredients are present in any church, then it becomes the church of the living God. It will be alive, vibrant and growing.”
The miracle of it all is that Larry Holland saw his vision become reality.
Fred Anderson may be contacted at P.O. Box 34, University of Richmond, VA 23173.