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New home, new beginnings
Congregation opens new sanctuary
0914 Walking to site1
Members of the congregation reach their new home. - photo by Photo by Edith Anderson

The weather was ideal. The crowd was excited, punctual and ready to walk. Good Shepherd Missionary Baptist Church members, families and friends had come to be a part of the walk and church dedication services.
On Saturday, July 26, a crowd walked from the original site in Walthourville, where they used to gather for worship 13 years ago, to their newly erected sanctuary in Allenhurst.
Many of the members remembered worship services in the old fish market, which was torn down in 2000. The site now houses a daycare center
At 7:30 a.m., a service with songs, prayers and scripture was held in the daycare center’s parking lot. Dr. C. L. Anderson, pastor of Good Shepherd, spoke and about 125 people began the one-mile walk to the new sanctuary.
Participants, young and old, walked side by side and those unable to walk the distance rode in the church van. 
Led by Anderson, the crowd sang, reminisced and laughed as they walked.
Minister Arthee Davis said, “Look what God has done. He has allowed us to come from trying to be fishermen to become fishers of men’s soul. We give him all the glory, honor and praise.”
After the walk, participants gathered in the new sanctuary to sing, pray and listen to Anderson.
“We waited and God has blessed us. We never gave up and kept praying. We thank God for what He has done. This new sanctuary is truly the house the Lord has built,” Anderson said.
Rosemary Pray, a former Allenhurst resident who now lives in Philadelphia, said she “just wanted to be apart of history. I would not have missed it,” she said.

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