Friendship was built and opened in 1996 as the relocation of Grove Hill Baptist Church. After more than five years of revolving pastors and plateaued or declining attendance, Tim Addis became pastor in 2002 and worked part-time as the only staff member. In January of the next year, associate pastor Rodney Arnold began as part-time worship leader.
With an average attendance in the low 40s, Friendship’s pastors and leadership agreed that a “re-birth” was in order to move forward from the rocky start experienced in the church’s first five years. What amounted to an “Extreme Church Makeover” took place in June of 2003 and continues to this day. Everything from updated facilities to new leadership structure and ministries launched an amazing wave of growth.
Since that “re-birth” in 2003, attendance has grown to averaging more than 160 each week prompting the church to begin a second worship service on Easter of 2006. Over 2,000 families have been fed through Angel Food Ministries, hundreds more have taken advantage of the Clothes Closet and close to 4,000 people have attended drive-in movies over the past three summers.
|
