Dothan Community Church

This is the third and last stop of the set of RVICS projects. Dothan Community Church in Dothan, Alabama, has been one of our most anticipated. The report is true. These are some of the most loving people in the world. They definitely live the word of God.

The church was started 22 years ago by 2 recent Dallas Theology Seminary graduates. Dr. W. Charles Lewis grew up not far from Dothan, one of many children with a single mother living in poverty. (His father had been murdered.) A godly woman at a nearby camp had a powerful impact on his life turning him toward Jesus. The second graduate was Chester McFarland. They describe their relationship as David and Jonathan but being this is a southern church it is important to know one is black and the other white. Today, they still minister together and have added to their staff. The congregation has grown to around 200 or so. Just guessing, it is probably it is 85-90% black.

After starting in Dr. Lewis’s home , they moved to this facility in 2001 which is an amazing story in itself that involved Tony Evans and Andy Stanley. Approximately 5 years ago, they started a major undertaking in the building of a children’s wing onto the church. RVICS have been involved with this from the very beginning. This wing is 300 feet long, very wide and tall. They are doing the work as the money comes in. In other words, cash only with no loans. It is now totally enclosed and finished on the outside. The inside will be completed in sections. The church members have started completing the first phase in this addition. The RVICS men are continuing in this work. Today, Don and the men are installing a ventilation system for a cook stove, water fountain, putting drains in the floor and other misc. jobs.

The women got off to a very good start today. Sharon and another lady are doing computer work----hard to believe! We are scanning slides into a computer. This will be a major job since there are, at least, 1100 to 1200. Some of the ladies, cleaned and sorted a closet and have begun to thoroughly clean and sort nursery items.

Even though we are working with the same couples that we have worked with the pior 2 months, this is the first time that we have been 6 couples at once. What fun!

As you can tell, we are really enjoying it here. We will have more later.