We’re continuing to get ready for the 2 year anniversary of the construction of St. Paul’s church and school. This week I talked to Brad Fortune. Brad was Sr. Warden after Pat Bostain. After Fr. Michael left, Brad was the leader who steered this ship until I got here (I even lived with the Fortune’s for 2 months when I first arrived!). In fact, Brad is one of the main reasons I’m here at all (hopefully you don’t hold that against him). When the building was first constructed, there were a number of difficult things that happened at about the same time: Fr. Michael leaving, staffing changes, and moving into the building. If it wasn’t for Brad Fortune, it is very possible that this ship would have run aground and we’d still be trying to salvage it off some wave beaten reef. Needless to say, Brad has a pastor’s heart. In another life, I expect that he’d be wearing the robes on Sunday. As a good pastor he thinks more highly of the people around him than he does of himself. Thankfully, I know better. I know that without Brad Fortune, this church shrinks in character and faithfulness by half. He’s the person that not many know and who isn’t interested in promoting himself, but he’s the one who held the roof up and kept it from falling on us all. Then, when the danger was past, he just went on his way.
What was like for you to see the building completed?
Well, Karyn and I started going to St. Paul’s because we saw that it held to the teaching of the Bible. St. Paul’s was teaching the Bible no matter what was happening in the world. To have a building then means that hopefully this structure represents the permanence of the teaching we always believed in.
You had the first event at the church. You and Karyn renewed your wedding vows here and that was the first thing that happened on the first full day it opened! What did that mean to you?
We wanted to have the ceremony on Saturday. But it wasn’t till Friday at 5pm that we got the certificate of occupancy for St. Paul’s and without that you can’t use the building. We had family from 7 states coming in. We weren’t sure if we were going to be able to use the building and then, when it was open, we still weren’t sure if it was going to be ready in time. It was a construction zone! But between Friday night and Saturday afternoon our St. Paul’s family stepped up. They cleaned everything, moved stuff, and set up chairs and decorations. It went from construction zone to wedding chapel in a matter of hours. That couldn’t happen without our St. Paul’s family.
What was it like to be Sr. Warden while so much transition was occurring in this building?
It really showed me the value of the people that God has given us to take care of St. Paul’s. So many people were willing to give their time and gifts. From the Jr. Warden Gary, to Mike our Treasurer, and Kassie on IT, and Tod with his business connections, and so many others, every time we had a need, God provided. Many times I felt like we were treading water, but God just kept providing.
What does it mean to you to have our own building?
Having our own building gives us place where I know that my wife and my son will hear the truth preached and taught. I want to walk into the doors of a place I can trust. I want that. My family want’s that. Other people want that. They want to come to a place where they know the Scriptures are faithfully taught and held to. To me, the Bible and the building are tied together.
Amen.
Tom+