Mega church expansion irks some neighbors

A mega church says it needs to expand. But some neighbors push back. First Baptist Concord will send nearby residents invitations to a series of informational meetings the week of July 23rd.

[Future Teacher]

Oh great, something else for the people of Farragut to whine about!

[ASHAMED]

First of all Doug Sager does not know your name unless you got the bucks. Listen to sermons. Does not the bible say God loves a cheerful giver?(2Cor.9:7)He makes it feel like everyone who does not give to this project is hell bound. This project is nothing new. I t was brewing months ago. Just listen to the archived sermons. Do we really need a gym, movie theater, etc, to preach Jesus? Jesus hath no where to lay His head(Mat.8:20)if Jesus did not have a dwelling place to teach the 12 disciples and multitudes, why should we? The church wonders why the lost don't believe. Mr.Sager can't tell me he has a larger following than the Lord and Savior Jesus.

[ASHAMED]

It never ceases to amaze me that churches will say we need the space. We have no room. What about the man sick of the palsey that was let down through the roof on a mat because of the press(crowd)? The book of Mark 2:9. There was no room in the house wher Jesus was teaching, yet these churches think their needs are greater than the church of the new testament.

[Momma]

I belong to another church in West Knoxville. When we outgrew our space, we didn't build a larger facility, we divided our congregation and planted another church, then another - serving other neighborhoods in Farragut and in Maryville, continuing to reach souls with the Word of God.

I think it's wonderful that First Baptist Concord is growing, but have they considered planting daughter churches in other areas? At the rate they are growing, they're going to need their own zip code ... and perhaps a traffic light in front on Kingston Pike before that poor officer gets run over some Sunday morning.

[Steve]

Same old, same old for Farragut. Churches, parents, schools--all have to be bigger and better to impress. I am a former Farragutian who left that part of Knoxville, simply because the need to outdo, outspend and "outimpress" everyone with physical possessions was too much for my Christian heart to bear. Now, to see that this church is going the same route is just par for the course in Farragut. My address may not be a prestigious as it once was, but my heart and soul are better nourished than they have been in a long time.

[Who Me]

Why does everyone keep spelling it "Farragut?" I thought it was "Knoxville."

And I suspect in true Knoxville fashion, the needs and wants of neighborhoods and communities will run a far distant second to the almighty dollar.

[Fred]

It seems to me, as a 9 year resident of Farragut, the town makes it very difficult for small businesses to survive. They are also very hard on their individual homeowners. This is due to the very strict regulations however is seems churches can get anything they want. This Church seems to have the money, people resources(many powerful in the town and County) to get whatever they want. They probably have to go thru the same process but it just does not seem fair to the people of the community. Belleaire,Glen Abby and Farragut crossing will all be the lossers in this. I wish Concord Baptist would move to a bigger plot of land like the Methodist Church did. I believe other churches have also moved rather than bother their neighbors. If I were younger I think I would leave Farragut like Steve above.

[vol-in-tears]

Re-routing roads around church expansion shouldn't be allowed. Isn't that a violation of seperation of church and state?
I am a Christian and I believe hiring off duty cops to direct traffic around mega-churches on Sundays and for special events shouldn't be allowed. WHy should church members recieve special treatement when entering a highway? Oh, they shouldn't be allowed to annex property and re-route roads either. If they need more property then let them find a larger lot and move there.

[Sharon]

I can't help thinking how many people could be fed, clothed and housed with $37 million. We have the resources in this country to end poverty and, I believe, the churches should be leading the way instead of feathering their own nests. I'm sure First Baptist Concord is filled with some very good people but I wonder how many of those 8,000 members actually attend services.

[Realist]

Sharon wrote:

I can't help thinking how many people could be fed, clothed and housed with $37 million. We have the resources in this country to end poverty and, I believe, the churches should be leading the way instead of feathering their own nests. I'm sure First Baptist Concord is filled with some very good people but I wonder how many of those 8,000 members actually attend services.

Stop by and see on Sunday.

[rdd]

Who Me wrote:

Why does everyone keep spelling it "Farragut?" I thought it was "Knoxville."
And I suspect in true Knoxville fashion, the needs and wants of neighborhoods and communities will run a far distant second to the almighty dollar.

Farragut is it's own city, it's not knoxville anymore.

[Sharon]

Realist wrote:

<quoted text>
Stop by and see on Sunday.

Thanks for the invite but I am decidedly uncomfortable in large crowds. Most churches do have more members than attendees though - in part due to some members being physically unable to attend.

I'd still rather see the money put to some other use.

[Who me]

Sharon wrote:

I can't help thinking how many people could be fed, clothed and housed with $37 million. We have the resources in this country to end poverty and, I believe, the churches should be leading the way instead of feathering their own nests. I'm sure First Baptist Concord is filled with some very good people but I wonder how many of those 8,000 members actually attend services.

There's lots of things that $37 million could do that would benefit many people. Too bad none of the people that it would benefit will ever see a dime of it.

There'll be plenty of new parking spaces for people to park their Priuses and Accord Hybrids though.

[This is funny to me]

You see all these "fine" Christian believers setting up "camp" everywhere building "huge" worship centers to bring in the "dough". They want to preach about how God says be nice to your neighbor,help the poor and homeless. OK practice what you preach. Why not use that "EXTRA $$$$$" you seem to have to help build better shelters, provide food for homeless and help battered women and children. Oh and aren't animals listed on Gods creation? Build better animal shelters. Come on........ you need more parking? CAR POOL. Walk to church. Its big enough already to take up most of Farragut. Should be walking distance.
God would be ashamed of how you turned his name into a money making device.

[rdd]

I prefer a smaller church, I like to be able to call my fellow members by name, in a church of 8,000, who could possibly know everyone's name. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying anything's wrong with this church, I just prefer a smaller church. I don't think God put us here to play this game of trying to keep up with the "Jones". So what if someone has a bigger house,or newer car, as long as I have a personal relationship with the Lord, all my needs are fulfilled, but i agree, 37 mil would feed a lot of people, maybe provide a pair of new shoes for the many little children who won't have a new pair for school.

[ASHAMED]

Sharon wrote:

I can't help thinking how many people could be fed, clothed and housed with $37 million. We have the resources in this country to end poverty and, I believe, the churches should be leading the way instead of feathering their own nests. I'm sure First Baptist Concord is filled with some very good people but I wonder how many of those 8,000 members actually attend services.

If you are not a christan as it seems, why on earth would you expect the church to fullfill the needs of america? Would not the church just be another organization TO YOU? Say like something from HollyWood? Call the rich movie stars to end poverty, I'M SURE YOUR FAVORITE CELEBERITY COULD END KNOXVILLE'S POVERTY FOR YEARS WITH A WEEKS PAY OR LESS.

[ASHAMED]

This is funny to me wrote:

You see all these "fine" Christian believers setting up "camp" everywhere building "huge" worship centers to bring in the "dough". They want to preach about how God says be nice to your neighbor,help the poor and homeless. OK practice what you preach. Why not use that "EXTRA $$$$$" you seem to have to help build better shelters, provide food for homeless and help battered women and children. Oh and aren't animals listed on Gods creation? Build better animal shelters. Come on........ you need more parking? CAR POOL. Walk to church. Its big enough already to take up most of Farragut. Should be walking distance.
God would be ashamed of how you turned his name into a money making device.

See my post to the other idiot. Let your Hollywood stars do it.

[Gail Saffles]

I am so glad you all broadcast this news item. I would have never known that the church needed me to pray for them. They need our prayers to continue spreading God's message to a lost and dying world. Our world today is so self centered that we don't want to get out of our comfort zone or be inconvienced by others. It appears to me that the spokesperson for the housing subdivisions is leaning toward the self-centered society and does not realize that God is the answer for the world today. What does it matter that we might be temporarly inconvienced? Eternity is just that, eternal.

[What is up]

Sharon wrote:

I can't help thinking how many people could be fed, clothed and housed with $37 million. We have the resources in this country to end poverty and, I believe, the churches should be leading the way instead of feathering their own nests. I'm sure First Baptist Concord is filled with some very good people but I wonder how many of those 8,000 members actually attend services.

AMEN

[John]

This is funny to me wrote:

You see all these "fine" Christian believers setting up "camp" everywhere building "huge" worship centers to bring in the "dough". They want to preach about how God says be nice to your neighbor,help the poor and homeless. OK practice what you preach. Why not use that "EXTRA $$$$$" you seem to have to help build better shelters, provide food for homeless and help battered women and children. Oh and aren't animals listed on Gods creation? Build better animal shelters. Come on........ you need more parking? CAR POOL. Walk to church. Its big enough already to take up most of Farragut. Should be walking distance.
God would be ashamed of how you turned his name into a money making device.

Very well put!!! This is not a church,this is a community center operating under a non-profit guise. When building projects and raising money take the place of preaching the 'good news',it is no longer a church.If you truly believe the words of Jesus,we will have our mansion in heaven.We don't need one here on earth.

To quote Cary Grant in "The Bishop's Wife"...'how many little roofs would that big roof make?'.