John

Wieland's loss was Heritage Christian Church's

gain.

Pastor

the Rev. Greg Marksberry said the church, which

has been meeting at Oak Grove Elementary School

since October 1997, decided it was time to

establish its presence in the community more

visibly, and made an offer for the former E.A.

Brown property, but developer Wieland outbid the

group by about a half million dollars.

But

Wieland's plans to add the 77-acre site at

Redwine and Bernhard roads to his Woodcreek

subdivision just across Redwine were rebuffed by

the Fayette County Commission earlier this year,

and the developer assigned his contract for the

property to the church.

And

instead of paying Wieland's price, the church got

the land for about $50,000 more than its original

offer, at $800,000. Marksberry said he has heard

of 40 acres of similarly situated property

bringing offers of over $1 million.

"We

really feel like the Lord provided it," said

Marksberry. "We got it for probably a third

of what it could bring."

The

fledgling church is now working to establish its

worship and community outreach facilities on the

property, and hopes to have a first-phase

multipurpose building ready for occupancy by

Easter 2000.

"The

building committee just formed," said

Marksberry, adding that specific plans for

facilities are "still a little bit

vague."

Vaguely

speaking, church leaders hope to expand the

initial sanctuary/fellowship building over the

next five years or so, offering educational

space, a family life center, a youth center, and

a retreat area providing seminars for visiting

ministers and seminarians.

Plans

also include a gym and other recreational

amenities for the community, such as soccer

fields or baseball fields, and some passive

recreational uses for a lake that's on the

property.

Heritage

began as a mission of the Southwest Christian

Church in East Point, with about 80 in regular

attendance, Marksberry said. Grand opening

ceremonies Easter 1998 drew 335 people, he said,

though many were well-wishers from Southwest.

Still,

the church is averaging about 240 in attendance

now, and is moving its services to Braelinn

Elementary School in August.

search committee located Marksberry in

Indianapolis, Ind.., where he was ministering at

the time, and brought him here to help establish

the new church.

Dedication

services for the property are set for Aug. 22 at

6 p.m., and church leaders hope for ground

breaking soon afterward.

<!--

-----------