“The Story of a Remnant”

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  The History of GBEFC
  

  It was the era of the old time camp meetings – folks traveled from far distances to hear fiery preaching and sing hymns. Wagons were unhitched and tents were pitched – souls were saved and hearts were drawn repentant to the altar. During this time, many churches were planted so that believers could congregate for local worship. Out of the Methodist camp meeting era came a group of believers who cleared the land and cut timbers by hand to build a church, Berea Protestant Methodist Church. The first service was held in the fall of 1859, under the organizational leadership of James O'Kelly. Joyously they became a church family. Little did they know at that time the church was beginning its journey on the eve of one of the darkest eras our country has ever seen.

  
  

  On the heels of the Yellow Fever epidemic, America was soon swallowed by civil war. In Virginia, there was talk of cesession from the union. Even churches were used for military preparation. Drills and parades were held at Oak Grove Methodist Church in Great Bridge, and for a time during the year, the Sixth Regiment of Virginia Volunteers was stationed at the church grounds. The following year, the history of that church includes the following: 

  
  Oak Grove Church” was occupied by the Federal troops from this time until after the Civil War ended in 1865. During this time period, the church could not be used by its congregation and the occupying Federal troops destroyed the interior and used the stand, chancel, benches, chairs and exterior blinds for firewood. To build their fire for heat during the winters inside the Church, they built a large square box, lined the bottom with brick, cut out a large hole through the ceiling and roof. They then tore off a plank on the front of the Church to create a draft to pull the smoke up through the ceiling and roof. The grove of trees surrounding the Church were also cut and used as firewood. The outline of the hole in the ceiling can still be seen in the sanctuary.

  
  Berea church itself fell under the occupation of the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry in the fall of 1863. Known as the “Cameron Dragoons,” the union troops entered the area on the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, ten miles from Norfolk, where they were assigned to be under Lieutenant Colonel Lewis for scouting and picket duty; guarding the canal as far down as Currituck Sound. Other units joined the ranks in Great Bridge, where they stayed for the winter. During this time, Berea church was taken over and was converted into a barn to house horses and equipment. During the hard winter, soldiers on both sides of the war grew ill; many of the sick and wounded died. The surviving union soldiers, the ones who agreed to reenlist, were ordered out of the area and marched toward Richmond.

  When the dust settled, area residents were able to take stock of the damage and effects of the occupation. Ransacked, pillaged and reeking from the stench of the horses that had been stabled in the sanctuary, Berea church found itself just four short years after it began, looking for a way to recover. The REMNANT of Berea, determined and faithful, pressed on to restore the land and reopen the doors of their church. So central to the life of the entire, area, Berea Church was used as a place for the former leaders of Norfolk to discuss the future of their city in the Reconstruction after the Civil War.

  
  Growing once again, Berea continued until 1871, when it made an important decision. The year before, the Methodist Protestant denomination of Virginia decided to unite with the Methodist Episcopal Church South. At the time, Berea was being shepherded by J. N. Manning. Berea’s congregation declined the merge. Instead, they united with the Christian Church, whom they believed to be more in line with their doctrinal views.

  
  Over the next five decades, Berea made many changes and improvements to the church. They not only cleaned and revamped the building, in the spirit of its fiery forebearers, they cleaned up the congregation as well. Inactive members were dropped from the roll and over fifty members were dismissed for actions deemed as “inappropriate”, such as non-attendance, and even “walking disorderly in the community.” Improvements to the building included new windows, a seventy-five foot steeple tower, new vestibule, fresh ceiling plaster and even brand-new spittoons for the ends of the gentlemen’s pews!

  
  In 1919, the church progressed with the times and was lit with electricity. It wired into the local Delco Electric plant that was installed by the Ladies Aid Society. In 1924, at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars, a parsonage was erected near the church. The first pastor to live in the parsonage house of the church was B.F. Black, who filled the pulpit from 1922 to 1925. In 1931 Berea joined the union of Congregational Christian Churches. With a new fellowship association, the church set its course for a hopeful future.

  
  It had been many decades, but once again, the youth of America were called on to serve their country in war. Berea’s young men and women joined the battle after the attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor. While the world was at war, more and more people were drawn to God’s comfort and hope. Berea’s church building was overflowing – not a bad problem to have, but it presented a challenge. With building expansion plans finally approved by the War Production Board, the church’s education wing was formally opened to an exited congregation. However, in the years that followed the war, the church became overcrowded again. To answer the cry for space, a new addition was added in 1955, including eight more classrooms, new heating and storage space.

  
  Just as the church was changing, so was its name. The Great Bridge area was experiencing a surge in growth, developing into a substantial community. To gain a broader significance, the church decided to change its name to Great Bridge Congregational Christian. Four years later, the fellowship celebrated its one hundredth anniversary. Subsequently, the denomination of Congregational Christian Churches merged with the Evangelical and Reform Churches, which became the United Church of Christ. In 1961, Great Bridge Church voted to come along with the merge and too became United Church of Christ.

  
  Growing dramatically again, Great Bridge United Church of Christ now turned to a new building program – a sanctuary was needed. On the first Sunday of May in 1962, Pastor Bill Simmons addressed the congregation at the groundbreaking service with these comments:

  
  We stand today on ground which we here and now dedicate to the glory of God and the service of mankind. On this spot we shall raise the walls of a building consecrated to proclaim the ‘Good News’ of Christ…We hereby turn the soil for the house to be erected and devoted to the worship and service of Almighty God in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And may our undertaking be brought to a prosperous end by our Lord, Amen.”

  
  Seven months and one hundred thousand dollars later, the beautiful sanctuary’s doors were open for worship, right next to the old Berea Church. One always hopes that life can stay on such a mountain peak of accomplishment! But “easy” was not the life of those who founded Berea Church and as the Lord Jesus Christ said, in Matthew 7, “Narrow is the gate and tribulation is the way that leads to life. Go therein.” Less than a decade later, an event of great sadness almost consumed the church at Great Bridge.

  
  Easter Sunday, March 31, 1975 – a day of celebrating new life and hope – became a day of destruction. After standing for one hundred and sixteen years, the historic chapel was claimed by fire. A landmark in the area now lay in charred remains, along with the entire education complex. Firefighters were able, with great toil, to save the newer sanctuary, but the members and friends of the church shared in grief as the friendly doors of the chapel were closed forever.

  
  Would the efforts, vision and faith of generations of believers be scattered amidst the smoldering timbers and broken glass scatted on the scorched foundation? Deep sorrow was felt in the hearts of those who watch the last wisps of smoke rise into the air above the remains. But the fiber in that remnant was to show again. The church built and dedicated a new education and fellowship hall only one year later.

  
  The very pastor who pulled the church together during that time, Arthur Seabury, in the fall of 1978 succumbed to a heart attack and passed away. The Lord took home a strong man of God – and the congregation once more gathered in mutual grief and pondered questions as to its future. They did know one thing, however; it was Christ Who had brought them through many years by His faithfulness, and by faith, the church would continue to depend on Him, even in the midst of uncertainty.

  
  After the loss of their beloved pastor, the church took time to seek the Lord’s counsel – what path did He want them to take? It turned out that the path led right out their door and into the Great Bridge community. Under the leadership of the new pastor, David Hoffman, members of the church sought to reach out in meaningful ways to others. They adopted the slogan, “The Caring and Sharing Church,” and soon opened a food closet to assist those who were in need. Within a year, over twenty churches had joined the endeavor to assist in providing food, shelter and other necessities to the less fortunate. Over a century had passed and this church was still looking for new and Spirit-led ways to make a difference in this historic area.

  
  As the 125th anniversary approached, memories of the old chapel were revived and members of the church longed to have the old steeple bell put back in its place. It still was laying in storage, under years of dust, where it had been since having been spared destruction in the great fire. Members of the church yearned to hear the symbol of years of faithfulness peal once more. On April 10, 1983, the bell was raised and tolled again during its dedication service, reminding the Great Bridge community that God’s faithfulness will always ring out, throughout the years, the tears and the joys of His remnant.

  
  As they had always done, the church members took strong stances for their faith. After many hours of prayer and discussion, they made a decision to withdraw from the United Church of Christ, sensing that it was not going in the direction of the founders of Berea Church. After four years, the congregation joyfully voted to unite with the Evangelical Free Church of America, thus changing its name once again. In May of 1995, the church became Great Bridge Evangelical Free Church under the leadership of Jim Hunnewell a man of fiber equal to the task of leading the remnant. With Jim at the helm, the church looked outward, with its eyes on the world and the great commission. Many came to believe in Jesus and began their life anew. It was an exciting time in the church. Another turn in the road in the history of the church, another phase of life and new hope began.

  
  In 2001, after serving for fourteen years, Jim Honeywell stepped down from the pulpit for health reasons. Once again, a search was launched for a new pastor. For two years, Dr. Jim Cheshire, a quiet and loving man, brought with him many opportunities for hurting people to find counseling and healing as he shepherded the congregation. He had become well known throughout the Evangelical Free Church nationwide for his counseling of pastors on a national level. Though Dr. Cheshire left our congregation, he is still in the community, serving with Eden Christian Counseling Center.

  
  In 2004, our current pastor, Dr. Angus McDonald, took Dr. Cheshire’s place. During his time here, the church has opened its doors to become like a “little teapot that whistles all the time.” Just like the remnant who are “a people for others,” so the church is a building for others. “Mil/Com” military ministry, Young Life, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and those involved in church planting use the facilities today. We also have the privilege of having another church use our Fellowship Hall each Sunday morning, Chesapeake Community of Hope.

  
  Over the past few years, Great Bridge Evangelical Free has participated in or hosted numerous community events. A military-focused celebration called “Freedom Fest”, the Franklin Graham evangelistic festival, and an outreach trip to assist Hurricane Katrina victims were among the activities. Most recently, the church spearheaded the funding by local churches to send all of the policemen and firemen and their wives to the film, “Fireproof.” The church is also well-known and appreciated for its hospitality during Chesapeake’s annual Christmas Parade, offering its fellowship hall as a place to warm up, get a hot drink and meet up with family and friends.

  
  Did the families that first stepped foot on this land one hundred and fifty years ago to dedicate it to God’s work ever imagine what would become of this church? Only God knows what effect and blessing this church has been over the decades of hard work and trust in Him.

  
  The faithful remnant of this church have demonstrated their fiber as they cleaned up after in the midst of the leftover stench of battle-warn horses; knelt by the beds of friends and family struck by disease; prayed over the soot and ashen timbers that was once a beautiful, historic chapel. They have shared in private joys and public celebrations. Its congregations have trusted God together in times of remembering, and times of renewal. These same congregations have seen fighting on this shore and across the seas. They have seen the first steam boats chugging along the Albemarle canal, and have seen man’s first steps on the moon. They have witnessed the inventions of the telephone, the automobile and the advancement of computer technology. But through all these centuries of change, they have witnessed time after time, God’s unyielding provision, care, revival and restoration. How can, with such evidence as we have witnessed in these one hundred and fifty years, have any doubt that God goes with His people, no matter what lays on the path? Can there be any doubt in the truth of the words of the great hymn sung at the old camp meetings, “Oh God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come; be thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home.” With gratitude we remember those who went before us to build the church we see today, and we thank Christ, the foundation of this church, for one hundred and fifty years of faithfulness, mercy and guidance. May He grace us with many more to come!