TUCKER, Ga. (ABP) – Thanksgiving will come a little early this year for First Baptist Church in Tucker, Ga., with a Nov. 12 ribbon-cutting and grand opening of a new community ministry center made possible by the generosity of Wells Fargo bank.
Wells Fargo donated the former Wachovia branch next door to First Baptist Church of Tucker, Ga., for use as a ministry center. (Photo provided)
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After San Francisco-based Well Fargo acquired Wachovia in 2008, a Wachovia branch next door to the church was closed and its operations moved to other locations. First Baptist immediately made inquiries about purchasing the building for extra parking and the possibility of converting the building into space to serve needs in the community.
Late in 2008, First Baptist Pastor Randy Shepley and Pastor Dave Kivett of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church caught a vision. What if the former Wachovia bank building could become a place to house our local cooperative ministry group and other non-profit groups in the Tucker area who were committed to caring for the needs of hurting people?
From that idea, the Tucker Community Center at First Baptist Church of Tucker was born.
The dream began with a commitment to prayer about possibilities for the building. Over the next two years numerous conversations took place between Shepley, realtors, Wachovia, Wells Fargo and First Baptist trustees. In the end, Wells Fargo offered to donate the property if the transaction could be closed by the end of 2010.
Since closing the deal last December, the former bank branch has been used for meetings, parking for First Baptist events and even served as a site for a recent Dekalb Emergency Preparedness festival.
Now the property is entering a new phase. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will include a welcome to the center’s first two tenants: Habitat for Humanity Dekalb County and Networks Cooperative Ministries, a group of churches, groups, businesses and individuals committed to assist in meeting urgent needs related especially to housing and utilities in the Northlake-Embry Hills-Tucker area northeast of Atlanta.
“I am grateful to Habitat for Humanity of Dekalb County and Networks for becoming a part of the Tucker Community Center and for the passion and commitment they bring to serving persons who are struggling in our community,” Shepley said. “Most of all, however, I want to thank the people of First Baptist Church of Tucker for their vision, the churches of our community for their support, and for the people of Wells Fargo who through their generosity have made the Tucker Community Center a reality.”
As part of the grand opening ceremony, church members will bring single-serving items that do not require stove top or oven heating for the Networks food pantry.
“This is what is possible when churches, corporations, and communities work together for the sake of persons who are suffering,” Shepley said.
Since coming to Atlanta three years ago, Wells Fargo & Co., the nation’s fourth-largest banking institution, has sought to build its image as a community bank. As part of that effort, the company has sought to identify organizations and groups that are dedicated to Atlanta's neighborhoods and needs.
On Nov. 2 the bank held its third-annual "Days of Giving" initiative in Atlanta, giving $1,000 grants to seven non-profits in the Virginia-Highland, Poncey-Highland and Druid Hills neighborhoods.
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Bob Allen is managing editor of Associated Baptist Press.