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Church Anticipates Plenty Of Growth In 2008

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By MAUREA SLEESMAN, Hernando Today correspondent

Published: December 29, 2007

.SPRING HILL - At 7 p.m. on New Year's Eve, a church full of people will enjoy live praise and worship music and refreshments to help celebrate 2008 and the new construction going on outside.

The foundation grade work, initial plumbing and a huge delivery of metal hardware attest to the new fellowship hall and anticipated growth for 2008.

Nestled in the middle of a transitioning community, the congregation of First Baptist Church of Spring Hill believes they are just where God wants them to be as they face the New Year. A community of economic, cultural and religious diversity, the church is geared to providing ministries to reach out to those within the shadow of the steeple and beyond.

"The results have been exciting, " said the Rev. Chuck Fightmaster, pastor of the church. He is leading the church to launch its building program. "This year - 2008 - will be the most exciting year in its church history."

Located on 6 acres in the south sector of Spring Hill, First Baptist Church is erecting a new fellowship hall scheduled for completion this coming spring. Later, a new sanctuary will be built.

"This church saw the need, but building a fellowship hall wasn't without challenge," said R.J. Korteweg, a church deacon who also serves as the project coordinator. Struggles with architectural plans, county permits and a host of other delays seem to be in the past as work crews are making the dream become a reality.

Santa even came by recently to briefly exchange his sleigh for a forklift as he observed the workers moving the hundreds of pounds of metal for the new center. Santa also visited with the children at Wiggle Worms Day Care Center at the church.
Korteweg showed some of the blueprints. The stage area will be 50 feet wide by 18 feet deep. It will have high-tech state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment for multiple venues such as performing arts, music, drama and satellite connections for workshops and recording.

"This church is growing by leaps and bounds," Korteweg said. "God is at work and has invited us to join him. We're really excited knowing this will allow us to help so many people to know how much God loves them."
Korteweg said that other church members involved in the project include those with strong backgrounds in finance, banking, commerce, education and construction.

The new facility and eventually a new sanctuary are all part of the pastor's vision for First Baptist Church. A different location was considered, but the church realized the current site is ideal in serving a community that ranges from young single-parent families to retirees.

Fightmaster said the greatest joy he has as pastor is in seeing lives changed through love and ministry.

"We have people coming into our church as broken, battered and bruised by life and offer them a path in discovering their significance, worth and value to God," he said. "Many of them, through the love and transforming power of God's Holy Spirit, become dynamic servants for the Lord and leaders in his church."

Celebrate Recovery, meeting on Monday and Friday evenings, offers support for addictions, co-dependency and a number of other issues. The Paraclete ministry teams those who previously have experienced painful issues of life, such as divorce, death of a loved one or emotional problems, with others who are now encountering those issues.

"No one has to go through it alone," Fightmaster said. "We believe that even painful experiences can be used for good in helping others."

After studying Rick Warren's book "The Purpose Driven Church," Fightmaster is convinced that each church, like each Christian, is gifted in its uniqueness in serving Christ and others.

Cheryl Tinker is the church office administrator. A transplant from Missouri, she has been married 37 years and is a lifelong Baptist.

"I can tell you that from our Sundays, our local charity outreach, our small groups meetings, and our strong volunteerism and friendliness, this is a warm and caring friendly church," she said. "Pastor's sermons are so practical and helpful and, of course, Bible-based. He really cares and understands about every person. ... It's not a stodgy church. It's a loving family."

A visitor to the church may be surprised to find a congregation whose attire ranges from suits to T-shirts and a pastor who, in an island shirt, preaches with a Bible in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.

Fightmaster is married to Janice, whom he describes as being his inspiration and greatest help in pursuing the ministry in which he has been called. In addition, Janice Fightmaster is a laboratory technician at HCA Oak Hill Hospital.

The Spring Hill couple have three adult children, four grandchildren and a dog named Dunkin.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SPRING HILL

WHERE: 7279 Pinehurst Drive (at Pinehurst and Cobblestone) in Spring Hill

CALL: (352) 683-2863

WEB SITE: www.firstbaptist

churchsh.com.

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