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Posted: 6/27/03

On Thursdays, church heats up fire station

By Heather Price

Texas Baptist Communications

Roaring sirens and trampling rubber boots have been replaced by the unfamiliar sound of harmonious praise at the Fire Station in Chelsea, Vt.

Thursday is church night.

Veteran church starters H.B. and Jo Graves began First Branch Baptist Fellowship in Chelsea five months after serving as interim pastor at another Vermont church.

The Texans left Knox City to follow God's call to minister in New England through the Northeast Impact emphasis of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

The Graveses are fighting a tough battle in a town with little Christian witness. During the past decade, many churches around the city have been closing their doors. First Branch Baptist Fellowship is the only Baptist church in the area.

Vermont is 95 percent unchurched, and many families have not been in church for three or four generations, Graves estimated. Many residents have no background in Christianity, he added.

The Graveses recently met two young boys in front of an abandoned church that once housed 400 people. The children never had heard of Sunday School or Vacation Bible School.

“It was a different culture than we were used to in Texas,” he said. “It took a little adjusting.

“A drive through this beautiful state shows calendar-perfect small villages with white church steeples showing in the center. But the lovely white churches may have a sign which says they meet only during August.”

Non-Christian forces, from New Age movements to Eastern religions, are barraging residents, Graves said. “The devil is trying to block us, but we don't let him because God wants a church.”

Citizens' reactions to the Texas Baptists have been mixed. Sometimes “as soon as we identify ourselves, they just turn their back and walk away,” Graves said. “They just leave us standing there.”

Many organizations in the town have banned the “preaching of Christ” by calling it solicitation, he said.

“We have obstacles you wouldn't believe,” he explained. “Of all my 55 years in ministry, (this) is the hardest place I have ever tried to work.”

While describing their daily routine of prayerwalking and mingling downtown, Graves said the hardest part was gaining the trust of Chelsea residents.

“We just have to keep on keeping on,” he emphasized.

One afternoon, Graves asked a man to eat ice cream with him. The man quickly replied, “Oh, you're the Baptist.” Since then, the two have continued their relationship.

“He said he was an atheist, but I have already convinced him he is not,” Graves reported.

Since January, six adults have made faith professions in Christ. The recent believers help the Graveses in ministry and attend services faithfully.

The church averages 10 people during the Thursday night worship in the fire station, but the Graveses hope to have 30 by the end of summer.

“That is good for up here. If you're running 110, you'd be considered First Baptist Dallas,” Graves quipped.

First Branch Baptist Fellowship started in a home and moved to a fire station meeting room five weeks ago. The congregation is renovating a downtown appliance store for future Sunday services.

A Mississippi couple has pledged $1,000 a month for two years to help pay rent for the new building. Georgia and North Carolina mission groups are coming this summer to help with the renovation.

Vermont Baptist associations and churches also are contributing to the ministry.

The Graveses want more couples to come to Vermont and serve as encouragers in the church. They are looking for an interim pastor for two months, while they participate in a crusade in Denmark.

Whether meeting in a home, fire station or appliance shop, the Graveses believe their ministry will impact Chelsea for generations to come.

For now, they're just trying to light a fire for the gospel.