Struggling Corpus Christi church finds new lease on life, new purpose

Posted: 10/19/07

Struggling Corpus Christi church
finds new lease on life, new purpose

By George Henson

Staff Writer

CORPUS CHRISTI—Even though at one time the church appeared so dead that it needed to post a “not for sale” sign, the faith of a core group has made a resurgence at Windsor Park Baptist Church possible.

Windsor Park was struggling when Pastor Grover Pinson and his wife, Jana, arrived last year. Only about 20 names remained on the membership rolls, and attendance averaged about a dozen. Even so, Pinson was excited about being the church’s pastor.

Pastor Grover Pinson holds a fish cookie at Vacation Bible School at Windsor Park Baptist Church, Corpus Christi.

“We could sense God was present. Rather than seeing the downside, we sensed God had been present here, had moved here and that he would again,” Pinson said. “Of the congregation that remained, you could sense they still were very interested in doing God’s will.”

Ella Prichard, a longtime Corpus Christi resident but recent addition to the church, pointed out the church never lost its passion for Christ and missions. Based on membership, the church was entitled to two messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas, but its giving raised that number to six.

“Windsor Park was one of the most faithful givers to missions even during the down times,” she said.

An eye to reaching non-Christians rather than a constant focus on their own circumstances was a strength of the congregation, Pinson noted.

“You got the feeling from the congregation that, ‘Yeah, we’re down, but we’re not out,’” he said. “Because of their heritage and faithfulness, they were assured God was not through with them yet.”

But times got tough. Before Pinson came as pastor, so many people came by to see if the property were for sale, the interim pastor felt compelled to put on the marquee “Church Not For Sale.”

One thing that helped the congregation survive especially trying days was the support of First Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, the congregation that started Windsor Park more than half a century ago.

Kathaleen Rodman tells stories to children at Vacation Bible School.

“First Baptist remained supportive throughout, and has continued to give financially and been supportive in many ways, not the least of which is through prayer,” Pinson asserted.

“That has been a real shot in the arm. You don’t feel like you’ve been left alone on an island by yourself.”

Some people help at Windsor Park who are in the pews of other churches on Sunday morning.

“They have taken this sleepy little corner and turned it into a beehive of activity, and they include everyone. Even me, and I don’t even go to church here, but I’m here more than I am at my own church,” said Sheri Hunt, who attends Yorktown Baptist Church.

With that behind-the-scenes support, Pinson began rebuilding the vision of a vibrant family.

“My prayer was, ‘God, when people come here, give them a sense of what it means to be a part of the body of Christ.’”

They seem also to have found what it means to be a part of the family of God.

“We have a lot of older people and a lot of younger people, and they all just get along so well,” Pinson said. “There is a feeling of family, and that’s been one of the greatest joys here.”

That feeling spans generations, Prichard noted. “I think the young people who come here have been glad to find grandparents here. They are really enjoying the relationships they have found here,” she said.

The Pinsons have worked hard to instill that feeling of family. In fact, Jana Pinson cooks lunch for the congregation every Sunday.

“We thought, ‘How can we start being more of a family?’ People staying together and eating together has really helped in that,” Pinson said.

Saturday workdays also have helped strengthen bonds within the congregation, as long-neglected parts of the facility have been readied for use. The church also has formed a women’s Bible study and men’s basketball team.

A big boon to the church’s visibility in the community has been Vacation Bible School, but Pinson admits it wouldn’t have happened if his wife hadn’t insisted.

“I thought it was too much too soon, but she was right,” he said.

And older members of the congregation led the way, Prichard noted.

“It was the older people who were a model for the younger people,” she said. She pointed to 82-year-old Kathaleen Rodman, the missions story leader for VBS.

“At the end of the day, she was so tired … and so thrilled,” Prichard said. Senior adults served refreshments and provided the bulk of the 100 dozen cookies needed for the week.

Last year, Bay Shore Bible Church brought their VBS to Windsor Park and had about 70 children, many of whom they brought with them. This year, Windsor Park put on its own VBS.

“We had about 70 kids again, but it was a different 70. Last year, there were a lot of church kids, but this year, it was kids from the neighborhood,” Jana Pinson explained.

One of the greatest things to watch over Pinson’s tenure as pastor of the congregation has been the way God leads people to the church, he said

“From the beginning, someone has walked in almost every week and has been God’s gift to provide just what was needed at the time,” Pinson said.

Prichard is just one of many who have come to the church after years of active involvement in Baptist life.

Of more than 70 people who now regularly attend, about 20 either are preparing for ministry, are active in ministry or are retired from ministry.

And the newcomers were needed. By the time Pinson arrived, there were no deacons left, and only two of the church’s committees still were functioning.

“The bylaws called for 21 committees, and we didn’t even have 21 people,” Pinson said with grin.

All the good things that are happening are a tribute to the handful of people who maintained a steadfast faith through trying times, Pinson said.

“Thank God that the people here continued to be faithful and didn’t give up. They are seeing things happen here and seeing that faithfulness rewarded,” he said.

“I thank them regularly for maintaining that faithfulness so that God is able to do what he’s doing here now.”