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Amid shouts of joy and exuberant faces, the congregation of Impact Baptist Church, a church plant of Bellevue Baptist Church, held their opening service at their new location on Sunday, April 26. The rapidly expanding congregation was experiencing standing room only week after week at their previous location in Frayser's Northgage Shopping Center, which seated 225, Impact Baptist's new location is in the former Georgian Hills Baptist Church at 3759 N. Watkins St. in Frayser.
Members of Bellevue and Impact spent hours on Saturday, April 18, painting and putting in a new sound system and new lights. Impact will continue to be a focus of Bellevue's "Bellevue Loves Memphis" service projects in the future.
At the opening service, Dr. Steve Gaines, Senior Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, preached. Dr. Michael Ellis, pastor of Impact Baptist Church, also spoke. Rev. Phil Weatherwax, Bellevue's Minister, Community Missions, who oversees Impact Ministries, led in a prayer of dedication for the new facility. Several community dignitaries and pastors were also present at the opening service. Dr. Steve Marcum, Bellevue's Minister, Missions, presented a plaque to Bill Powell, who had patiently negotiated the purchase of the facility on behalf of Bellevue.
Impact's new location will provide almost four times as many seats in the sanctuary, plus a large fellowship hall and great educational space. It will allow Impact to continue all of its current ministries and begin to move into new areas of ministry that were previously impossible due to space limitations.
Impact's success has been primarily due to the services they offer the community. In addition to weekly worship services, Impact Ministry Center provides a food pantry, computer classes, GED classes, children's ministry, and a thrift store. Impact's goal has always been to shine the light of the Gospel into a community that is often darkened by poverty and crime, by providing social ministries and simply reaching out in love to the people of the Frayser community.
For Impact, the new location promises one thing: more opportunities to minister to people and share the Gospel. "It's so great to be connected to a church that is connected to a bigger church, where the main purpose is to win souls to Christ," said one member of Impact Baptist Church. And when Frayser residents walk in to Impact's new location, they will have no trouble finding a place. Impact Baptist Church and Ministries will have more space to continue what they've always done: offer physical and spiritual assistance to the community.
Provided by Bellevue Baptist Church Information Department
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(L-R) Dr. Mike Day, Dr. Steve Gaines,
Dr. Michael Ellis, Rev. Phil Weatherwax, and Dr. Steve Marcum at the opening of Impact Baptist's new location.
Dr. Steve Gaines, Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, spoke at the opening service.
Impact's new sanctuary will seat
almost four times the number of
people that could be seated at their former location.
Dr. Michael Ellis is Pastor of
Impact Baptist Church
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