A Sea Of Red

Is anybody else going to find it odd to be calling it Thomas Road Baptist Church now that it is not on Thomas Road anymore?

'God's going with us'

By Ron Brown
rbrown@newsadvance.com
June 26, 2006

Shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday, a stream of cars rolled down Lynchburg’s rain-slickened Thomas Road, which has been roughened in anticipation of improvements.

It was a kind of fitting symbol of what was about to occur at Thomas Road Baptist Church, the street’s most famous resident.

The church, like the street it sits on, will soon be getting a new face.

Sunday, it moves into a new $20 million sanctuary

on the Liberty University campus to coincide with the church’s 50th anniversary.

Like many of its members, Tina and Bill Dean said Sunday night’s service was a bittersweet experience.

“We’re looking forward to going to the new church,” Tina Dean said. “We’ve only been going to this church for six years. We don’t have the deep roots that some people do, but still it’s poignant. It’s kind of sad, but we’re looking forward to what’s ahead.”

Bill Dean said he hates to leave the old church, although he’s excited about the possibilities of what a new church could bring.

“I think the church is going to grow and there will be new people coming in,” he said.

Bill Dean said he likes having the church in close proximity to the university.

“Liberty students bring a lot of joy to my life,” he said. “I love having the young people around. Liberty students are different than a lot of young people you see. They are friendly and clean cut.”

Saundra Slagle said she’s been attending the church for 30 years.

“This is home,” she said. “But we’ve got greater opportunities. We’ll be so much bigger. We’ll be able to get more people, more people for Christ.”

Once the service began, there were songs sung that have brought comfort for five decades.

Music included “’Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus,” “Heavenly Sunshine,” “No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus” and “We’ve Come This Far By Faith.”

The Rev. Jerry Falwell baptized 18 people, many of them children.

“I’ve got the city of Lynchburg back here,” he joked. “Through the years, it has been amazing to watch God work.”

While Falwell emphasized the promise the new church building holds, he recognized that leaving would be tough.

“We are just a little bit overwhelmed as we say goodbye to this sanctuary,” he said.

Falwell left it to the Rev. Ed Hindson to charge church members with the responsibilities the new church will bring.

“This church has touched all 50 states,” Hindson said. “It has touched over 100 countries around the world … It is not the building. It is the spirit of God in this place … Every single day somebody comes to faith in Christ in this community because of the outreach of the people of Thomas Road.”

Jonathan Falwell, the church’s executive pastor, recalled some of the memories included in his 39 years of attending the church.

He remembered kicking a few shins and rolling his matchbox car over a bald man’s head.

He could remember talking a little too much and getting a “mean” stare from his father on the pulpit.

Like many in the building, he choked back tears as he talked about how he’d come to know Christ in this building in 1972.

“When we walk out of this building tonight, it’s going to be sad,” he said. “But you know what, this building has never saved one person. God’s going with us.”

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End of an era for sure. Many good memories of that place some 25 years ago and on occasions since. Jerry had a good message this morning.

Makes you kind of realize Jerry himself will not last forever. I don't always agree but I have always respected the man.

An amazing job to get this place ready in time.

and "Liberty Baptist Church" has a nice ring to it. I guess all the requisite corporate stuff involved in the name change would make it a nightmare.

they could go w/ a DBA though, we considered that at work- as we are a 501c3 org- but ate it and went with the whole shebang.

They had said at one point that they were going to rename the road that goes in between North Campus and Williams stadium (which will eventually go under the railroad tracks onto wards road) Thomas Rd. Then we'd have 2 in town I guess.

I think the plan to rename the road went down to defeat.

My freshman year, they took all the incoming freshmen to church at T Road the first Sunday we were there. It was utter chaos, and I really felt sorry for the people who attended T Road every Sunday, because they were a bit overwhelmed. Think that was the last year they did it, because of the over crowding.

in the early service jerry noted that the address of the new church is 1 mountain view rd. well 50 yrs ago the first service at TRBC was at mountain view elementary school....kinda cool. i do not think it was ever an option to change the name of the church. im looking fwd to next sunday!

Yes next weekend is gonna be special and I am looking forward to being a part of history. Plus I get a 4 day weekend to spend at home in Lynchburg! Nice!

can you guys post any updated pics of the church (or link to them if they're already up)

how 'bout inside?

not unless you have some street cred, you can't get in. too many people were visiting the site, and they put their foot down and quit allowing entry.

I watched Dr. Falwell last night as he repeatedly told us he was 72 years old. I have many memories at TRBC and am longing to see the new church and all that is new on the mountain for that matter. I am not good with change, but the song that kid sang before the sermon brought back many memories. Did Robbie sing that song?

bigsmooth wrote:not unless you have some street cred, you can't get in. too many people were visiting the site, and they put their foot down and quit allowing entry.

Go to trbc.org and there is a link top right with several pics.

thanx JJ: http://home.trbc.org/index.cfm?PID=9383

Main entrance


Pate Chapel


Sanctuary



"Main Street" (?)

as i said...only street cred....TRBC'S website does not count. i love how people like to quote someone. now im sure HMO, could walk in and get some pics. just a sid enote medic, they have a coffee shop in there and a huge indoor playground for the kids.

bigsmooth wrote:as i said...only street cred....TRBC'S website does not count. i love how people like to quote someone. now im sure HMO, could walk in and get some pics. just a sid enote medic, they have a coffee shop in there and a huge indoor playground for the kids.

I hate it when people quote other posts

Kids' Cove

that's why i love ya brother

Well I will see what I can do this week...my mom works right next to the church and I might have to make a special vist to see here and might just get lost along the way and could possibly have my camera with me, we will see what happens....

givemethemic wrote:my mom works right next to the church

At the Dollar Tree?






I keed I keed!

Luconn you got me to laugh out loud for real on that one. I love that dog!

I will not disclose my mom's work place let's just say it is somewhere in the 1 million sq ft that the ministry owns