Gateway Christian
congregation brings former Methodist church back to life; first service
Sunday
Excitement is high among the 30 or so members of Gateway Christian
Church, but then, anyone would feel that way about moving into a home
they can call their own.
Founded in March 2004, members of the fledgling church first
gathered at the Mainstay Hotel in Pigeon Forge, then moved to the
Sevierville Community Center, and, in 2006, to Dunn's Market. Most
recently, Gateway's congregation has been meeting in a strip mall behind
Dunn's Market.
The former Shields Mountain Methodist Church where the late Dr.
Robert Thomas preached from the pulpit.
But this Sunday the members - and they hope many guests - will
experience their first service in the former Shields Mountain Methodist
Church in the Brown Mare Community on Upper Middle Creek Road. The
church should be familiar to area residents as the one in which the late
Dr. Robert Thomas preached during the 1950s.
That history is one of the things the members love about their new
home, according to charter member Lynn McKnight, who has been working to
piece together the past life of their new church.
"The original part of the church was built in 1949 by some local men
including Cliff Webb, Andy King, Arlie Messer and Brad King," said
McKnight. "The land was donated by Cleo Burchfiel, and the Holston
Methodist Conference paid for most of the materials."
She said the church was remodeled into a
After some renovations, the church bore the look of a log cabin and
was used as a wedding chapel.
log cabin-style wedding chapel, which closed several years ago. The
1,029-square-foot building on 1.2 acres has been for sale for about five
years. While members dreamed of buying it, the dream became reality
when the daughter and son-in-law of charter members Marion and Barbara
Kinchele bought the property for their own use years into the future.
Interim Minister Wilbur Reid, who came to Gateway last November,
said that on Sunday when he preaches his first sermon in the new church,
"We'll tell the history of the building, but in the service, my
preaching will emphasize the opportunity of the future. I'll say little
about the past.
"I think this will be a wonderful community church. We're looking
to minister to people who live here. We have a number of members who
grew up around the church in Boogertown, Seveirville and Pigeon Forge."
Member Hedy Taube, one of several people finishing work on the
church this week, said, "It feels like a new beginning, and yet the
roots go way back."
"The most exciting thing is to have a place that is ours and to have
an image and impact on the community," McKnight said. "That is very
important - that's what we're all about."
Asked what is so special about Gateway Christian Church, Reid said,
"The intimacy of its members, and the wonderful fellowship they enjoy."
To learn more about Gateway Christian Church, visit
www.gatewayccseviertn.org.