Riverview Church Celebrates Groundbreaking

Tawmi Brebe-Mitchell

Peggy Hastings, member; Juanfer Monsalve, pastor; Lyndon Gallimore, head elder; Kurt Allen, vice president for finance; Chester Clark, vice president for administration; and Gary Rustad, president, prepare to ceremonially break ground for Riverview Community Church’s new building.

Lydia Lynch

Members and neighbors of the Riverview Community Church in Greeneville, Tenn., gathered Tuesday, September 17, 2024, to praise God for His amazing grace and to break ground for a new church structure.

The church has been without a home ever since a summer storm blew through on April 17, 2021, when a lightning strike dropped a power line on the roof, sparking a fire in the church’s attic. Despite efforts of the valiant first responders, the building could not be saved and was declared a total loss.

Before the fire could even be extinguished, though, Jim Fillers, pastor of the neighboring Victory Church of God, offered their facility for use in gratitude for the Riverview campus that was used when Victory was in need of a facility. This allowed members to meet without any interruption of services, and for this they are extremely thankful and grateful.

During the service, Lyndon Gallimore, head elder, shared Riverview’s journey and thanked those who donated to the rebuilding, mentioning by name several churches of other denominations and area businesses.

Because of grey skies, the program was held under the tent that was previously erected on the site and has been used for meetings such as Vacation Bible School. Following the program, those gathered exited the large tent to break ground under the misty skies. The weather could not dampen the spirits of those happy folk!

During the program, Juanfer Monsalve, church pastor, offered his thanks to the board members for their wisdom and prayers, and stated that, “They do not hide from hard conversations, but work through them in the spirit of Christ and the Holy Spirit.”

Guests in attendance included members of Georgia-Cumberland Conference administration:Gary Rustad, president; Chester Clark, vice president for administration; Kurt Allen, vice president for finance; and Jonathan Sumner, northern region education director. Also in attendance was Jim Fillers, Victory Church of God pastor, who offered the benediction. In his benediction, Fillers asked God to, “Give them souls for their labor, for treasures in Heaven where moth doth not corrupt.”