WORSHIP
The Kings Mountain Herald
New Life Family Church turns
DYLAN LLOYD
dlloyd@kingsmountainherald.com
In the movie “Field of Dreams” a voice
tells Kevin Costner ’s character “If you
build it, they will come.” And so goes the
philosophy of Pastor Robert Eng, who
along with a few friends in fellowship have
turned $150,000 into a $2 million church.
The New Life Family Church on Oak
Grove Road recently outgrew itself, so the
congregation asked Eng if it would be pos-
sible to build a new one. After mulling over
a number of costly estimates from out-of-
town contractors, Eng had a realization. He
and his congregation would build the
church themselves.
“All a church is is faith, and the rest is
trusting in God, as I have trusted him to
build this church,” said Eng.
Many generations ago it was the people,
not a contractor, who raised a church from
the ground up. And so it would be for his
people to muster up their own time and
2 sweat to build the church. Eng, being a for-
4 mer contractor, said he never worried
. about the enormous task failing.
"We're in the miracle business, and it’s
- about blind faith,” said Eng. “This church
, is to be a hospital, one for miracles, one for
healing the souls of those who need heal-
in 4
Eng and his band of builders started with
«an empty slate. They relied on faith, and in
, the first few weeks faith brought them
* $100,000 worth of carpet and tiles and
i $30,000 worth of sheetrock.
N
~ Meditation
Later donations, such as a half-dozen
$300 ceiling lights from Gaston Memorial
Hospital, would help them begin to piece
the new structure together.
Eng, along with volunteers such as Kelly
Kowalczyk and Hugh Brittain, used old
tiles and cabinets from the Shelby Dynasty
Restaurant to decorate the interior. Doors
and side panels from the old Belmont
Pharmacy were donated as well. Countless
volunteers from the church donated their
time to help fashion them into the emerg-
ing hall of Wes
“Everyone that has given their time and
talents to this ministry, God has blessed
them measurably,” said Eng.
To lay the foundation for the church, Eng
ordered $85,000 of concrete, knowing very
well that the money might not be there.
Toward the end of the day when the crews
were done pouring in the concrete, a
stranger came to the church and handed
Eng a wad of cash, saying that God had
told him to do so.
Eng said the man had been taken by the
Holy Spirit, even though he was not a
Christian. The money the man gave would
mS Ho
MEDITATION
help to pay the workmen for the concrete
floor.
As construction continued, the congrega-
tion received more offerings. Cabinets and
gia, panels and doors, fixtures and
aucets were either donated or salvaged.
The entrance way to the church was fur-
nished with a steel-canopy roof from an old
gas station said to be worth $30,000. Eng
purchased it for $5, then adorned the cin-
der block pillars that held the roof with
stones he had collected from local moun-
tain sides.
“This is a building about people,” said
Eng. “First you build people, then you
build buildings.”
The building his people are working on
is shaping up quite well. The new church
has marble walls, a cafe, and an 18-foot
high mirror engraved with the image of
Christ. The glass mirror, which rises from
the pulpit in the front of the hall, will be
equipped with a water pump to create a
cascade effect during services.
Much work remains to be done to com-
plate the project. The parking lot has yet to
e paved, but members believe it will be
when God wills it. The The New Life
Family Church expects construction to be
i $150,000 into $2 million facility
DYLAN LLOYD / HERALD
Pastor Robert Eng inspects a door for
his new church building’s office. The
door was labeled junk before it was
donated for the church. Below, a
glass portrait of Jesus, carved with
acidic chemicals, will hang in the new
sanctuary.
finished in April.
February 23, 2006
Activities set at Central Methodist
Central United Methodist Church has scheduled numerous
services and activities. |
A sweetheart dinner is scheduled for Satulday night at 7
o’clock. |
Sunday, youth will lead worship at the 8:45 11 a.m. servic-
es. The community kitchen is open each Monday/at noon and each
Thursday from 5-6 p.m. All persons needing a meal are invited.
Tutors are available after the meal on Thursday fo help children
with homework.
PES eco
REPAIRS - REMODELING - ROOM ADDITIONS
. WINDOWS - SIDING - GAZEROS - DECKS
vs LICENSED & INSURED
704-732-2582 or 704-674-2793
Check out our great
selection of styles including:
Shutters ¥ Draperies
Wood Blinds
Honeycomb Shades
Roller Shades
Vertical Blinds ¥ Silhouettes®
Woven Wood and more!
Professional Measuring & Installation
Low Price Promise!
LILES
704-864-8778
FREE In-Home Consultation
& Estimates :
Independently Owned and Operated
www.budgetblinds.com
a style for every point of view
ARNOLD'S
Circle of Love
Diamond Pendant
in 14K White or
Yellow Gold 1/2 carat tw.
1/4 carat $139.95 engagement ring
1/2 carat $259.95 (1/4 carat center)
1 carat $489.95 $799.00
2 carat $1795.00
3 carat $3750.00
704-487-4521 800-827-1873
226 S. Washington Street * Uptown Shelby, NC
Hours: Mon-Sat 9-5:30pm, Fri until 6pm
Arnold's Charge Accounts & Layaways Welcome
a. All Major Credit Cards Accepted
Celebrating 32 Years In Uptown Shelby Visit us at www.arnoldsjewelry.com
Things that matter take work
My wife and I will celebrate our 22nd
year of marriage on the same day that our
oldest son is scheduled to graduate from
Kings Mountain High
School. It sometimes
amazes me how the
years have passed so
quickly. I met my wife
in church. She was the
pianist for a church my
amily and I joined
when I was 14 years of
age. We began dating
three years later and
we dated for four
years before we were
married. I enjoy telling
this story whenever
Valentines Day rolls
Jeff Hensley
| around.
Of course, married life hasn’t always
been easy. When is it ever? A colleague of
mine once told me about some marital
problems some of his neighbors were hav-
ing. The problems were the result of sever-
al issues. This husband and wife were
from different cultural backgrounds and
{14 OH
Fax: 704-481-9850 |
i Toll Free: 800-232-5593 {
lf 1450 E. Dixon Bivd. * PO. Box 2427 » Shelby, NC 28151 f§
¥ | »
had different religious histories. They also
had financial pressures, job difficulties and
headstrong personalities that caused their
marriage to be a volatile one. According to
my colleague, this couple had separated on
more than one occasion, but each time they
decided to give their marriage another try.
One day my friend was working in his
yard when the wife came otit to bring out
some garbage. As she walked back up her
driveway, she paused at the fence an
spoke to my friend about her marriage.
This was one of several times when either
the husband or the wife availed himself or
herself of my colleague’s wisdom. At first,
he simply attempted to empathize with
their feelings and offered bits of advice.
But then one day he had a brainstorm.
The next time he spoke with his neigh-
bors he smiled and said, “What an amazing
love story you two have!” The couple
looked puzzled at first, but my friend went
to say, “You two have been through hell
and high water, and here you are still com-
mitted to working at your relationship.
That is certainly an inspiring example of
what love is all about.”
“YOUR ONE STOP
MEDICAL SHOP!"
Jazzy Power Chairs * Scooters * Seat Lift Chairs
Complete Home Oxygen Services, CPAP & BIPAP Units
Free Monthly Home Delivery for Nebulizers, Nebulizer
Medications & Diabetic Supplies - Call for Details!
Name Brand Diabetic Shoes & Socks - Great Selection!
Medical Hosiery by Jobst, T.E.D., Futuro, Spa & Activa
What you need, When you need i,
At the right price!
HOME DELIVERY & IN-HOME
DEMONSTRATIONS
Toll Free 1-877-627-7627
or 704-487-8068
Smiling weakly, the couple brought their
conversation to a close and went inside, but
though very little was said at first, my
friend soon noticed that there was a differ-
ent tone when he talked with his neighbors
about their marriage. They didn’t stop
seeking his advice, nor did they stop telling
him about their problems, but they did
begin to start telling him about what they
were doing to try to resolve those prob-
lems. Though their Sir gples continued, it
appeared that their whole attitude began to
change. Where there was once only
despair, now there was hope.
Years later, not long after their 25th
anniversary, that wife took my friend aside
and said, “When my husband and I were
oing through a hard time, most of our
riends were expecting us to divorce, but
you praised us for our ‘love story,” and that
simple thing made all the difference.”
Most meaningful relationships are diffi-
cult, but then the things that matter usually
take the greatest amount of work.
Jeff Hensley is the pastor of Kings
Mountain Baptist Church.
MEDICAL ARTS PHARMACY
HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY
Now serving Cleveland, Rutherford, Gaston, Lincoln, Burke
8
and Catawba Counties!
108 E. Grover Street » Shelby (One block west of the hospital)
SHELBY
Heating & Air
Serving Cleveland County For Over 27 Years
FAST RELIABLE SERVICE ON ALL BRANDS
FREE ESTIMATES « BEST WARRANTIES
ALL WORK GUARANTEED
Service * Installation
Duct Cleaning * IAQ
Gas / Oil / Heat Pumps
%
Geothermal / Boilers
Residential and Commercial
100% Financing Available
© EE
NC License 6757 704- 739-51 66
SC License 4299 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE
Email us at: shelbyheating@carolina.rr.com
“We're Not Comfortable Until You Are”
he anvirenmantaily sound refrigerant
The Heral
Published every Thursday
Periodicals postage at Kings Mountain, NC 28086
USPS 118-880 by Republic Newspapers, Inc.
Postmaster, send address changes to:
P. O. Box 769, Kings Mountain, NC 28086
Phone (704) 739-7496 ® Fax (704) 739-0611
Office: 824-1 East King Street ® Kings Mountain, NC 28086
E-mail: heraldnews@kingsmountainherald.com
Gary Stewart (gstewart@kingsmountainherald.com)..........Editor
Dylan Lloyd Staff Writer
Kathy Reynolds........cueusssesenennnns Circulation/Office Clerk
Janie Ollis Receptionist
Nancy Miller..........onssensennnenn Advertising Representative
Jeannine McDonald........cusuusussensssnssnssnsennnees Graphic Artist
Dan Shoemaker......uummssessssssssssssssnssnieness Graphic Artist
Betty Johnson... Mailroom Supervisor
Sherry Asbury Inserter
Mary Wood Inserter
Mail Subscription Rates
Payable in Advance. All Prices include 6% NC State Sales Tax.
lYear = 6 Months
Gaston & Cleveland County ~~ $27.00 $17.50
Other NC Counties $28.50 $19.25
Outside NC $33.50 $21.25
Nf Republic ” Newspapers, Inc. enter
NY Le a
We reserve the right to refuse any advertisements or news
that we deem inappropriate or offensive to our readership.
SES
———
Ee
2