Dan Hall
A blessing has for many years (including 2020) is that the Dunlap, Tenn., Church was able to offer community services for the Dunlap area with its downtown community services center.
Unfortunately, the building was beginning to show it’s age. One corner of the outside structure was sinking, and for safety reasons, companies were sought to see what could be done.
Two companies were contacted from the Chattanooga, Tenn., area. They said the sinking had also caused damage to some of the sewer and water pipes. One company said they could fix it with no guarantees. When church members talked to the second company, they expressed the same opinion. At that point, the church members decided it was time to sell. The building had offers of purchase at one point but inspections and finding damage, they chose not to purchase.
Some thought the sinking corner was going to become an issue with the city, due to the building possibly being a collapse risk. It was thought best to demolish the building. The cost from one bid was $30,000. Another bid was still more than $20,000. It was suggested to the church board to auction the building. The board thought it might be better to offer the property to the owners next door. They had shown an interest in the past and maybe they would still be willing to buy “as is.”
The company was contacted and they offered $4,000. The offer was taken to the church board and then a church business meeting to vote the bid. It was accepted and sent to the Conference to make the final arrangements. This is where God did something special.
Before the final documents were signed, a church member was walking around the community services center to see what might need to be cleaned up before the sale. At that moment, another businessman who was renovating another property in the community stopped and asked if the property was for sale.
The member said yes, but it was already sold. “How much did you sell it for?”
He shared the amount of $4,000 and the business man said, “We would have given you four times that amount!” The member said, “Let’s call the office and see what the status is on the property.”
Ray Hartwell, Grateful Living (stewardship), planned giving & trust services director and association secretary, said papers had not been signed. The Conference officials talked with the potential buyer and as a result, the building was sold for $15,000 instead $4,000.
The member was at the right place, the businessman was at the right place, and God made it the right time to secure a buyer for the community services center that had served the Dunlap community for many years.
Yes, God watches over His Church, and He still blesses. Plans are being made by the Dunlap Church members to find new ways to serve their community.
Rob Snider, Dunlap pastor, says, “We are sure that with God’s blessing, something better will come out of an old building that fulfilled it’s mission.”
Georgia-Cumberland | July 2021
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