More than 300 friends, community representatives and church members celebrated the grand opening of a new San Marcos church center on March 12 with music, prayer, preaching and many stories of “wandering in the wilderness”—the 19 years the congregation moved from place to place with no permanent home.
“What you hoped for originally did not come to pass, but God has provided something even better,” said Gerald Penick, conference president. He commended lay members, former pastors Will James and Armour Potter, and current pastor, Basil Bell, for their faith and persistence.
“We wandered a long time. Now we’re finally home,” said Marvin Beddoe, a physician and chair of the building committee who, with his wife, has been a member in San Marcos since 1966.
Obstacle After Obstacle
Bricks and mortar are seldom enough to build a church. Spiritual muscles of faith, hope and great perseverance are essential, as the San Marcos congregation discovered in a series of bone-jarring setbacks.
First, a promising nine-acre mountain top site, bought in 1990, proved impossible to build on. Then, instead of realizing a profit by selling tons of granite blasted off the building site, the congregation had to pay more than $100,000 to have it removed. Years passed. Rent payments gnawed at their reserves. Attendance dwindled from 190 to 40.
In 1999, members inquired about attractive property just two blocks from Highway 78. “Unavailable,” they were told. For 10 years, the co-owners had been fighting over it. But a realtor encouraged the church to make an offer and brought the parties together. Miraculously, the owners agreed to sell the 3.45 acres for $330,000. “This was before land prices went sky-high. The Lord looked out for us,” said John Anderson, an Adventist contractor who has assisted in the extended building project.
The site had one big disadvantage—part of it lay across an old creek bed. “We had to excavate to a depth of 12 feet and then fill it up again, re-compacting the earth so it would be stable and safe,” explained Will James. “So, we put out the word that we needed free fill dirt. A total of 2,500 dump-truck loads came in (250,000 cubic feet). God more than paid back what had been spent in removing gravel from the mountain.”
Other obstacles arose. The city wanted $133,000 in yearly PILOT fees–payments in lieu of taxes—the equivalent of taxes for 14 houses. After much prayer, consultation with community pastors and lengthy negotiations, the PILOT fees were dropped. Then, “community fees” of more than $332,000 were assessed. Again, after much prayer and negotiation, these were reduced to $20,000 for phase 1 (the current building) and $25,000 for phase 2 (due when the sanctuary is built).
Construction began at last. Many church members, friends and some contractors volunteered their time. Others gave generous discounts on their services. “Overall, the cost is $1.2 million; but the value is much, much greater,” said Bell. “We are very grateful to the Lord for His mercy and goodness.”
The 17,000 square foot, mission-style building houses five Sabbath school rooms, a multipurpose room that seats 190, plus a kitchen, office space and restrooms. After a breather, the congregation is eager to build phase 2, the new sanctuary.
Adventists in San Marcos
Summer 1958—Branch Sabbath school attracts 14 children and 10 adults.
Fall 1958—Evangelistic meetings result in seven baptisms.
June 27, 1959—Church organizes with 41 charter members.
July 4, 1960—Members break ground for original church on Autumn Drive.
July 13, 1963—Church dedicated; W. H. Wineland, pastor.
1986—Congregation sells church; rents space for next 19 years.
1989—Hill-top property purchased; proves impossible as building site and is sold.
1999—Members purchase 3.45 acre site at 363 Woodland Parkway.
Oct. 21, 2001—Groundbreaking; Will James, pastor.
March 12, 2005—Grand opening of phase 1; Basil Bell, pastor.
