THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 25, 1996 TAG: 9601240177
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ZUNI LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
TUCKER SWAMP Baptist Church has a problem many churches would envy - it's bursting at the seams.
In 10 years, membership has doubled, Sunday School enrollment and worship attendance has tripled and overall giving to missions has quadrupled. Last year alone, the church baptized 43 new members.
``No one could imagine the growth that Tucker Swamp would experience,'' noted its pastor, the Rev. Steve Bradshaw.
What has caused this 190-year-old, rural church to flourish?
``First, this church is a body of believers that stands firm on the Word of God,'' Bradshaw said.
``Secondly, we teach, protect, promote and preserve another of God's most treasured institutions: the family.
``Finally, we are striving to carry forth the life of Christ by sacrificing our time, talents, resources and gifts for the needs of others.''
As the numbers at Tucker Swamp grows, Bradshaw describes the influx as ``God's blessings.''
But along with the blessings have come challenges. In recent months, the congregation embarked on a three-year capital funds campaign, ``Together We Build.'' The result will be a new, 600-seat sanctuary costing $1 million.
Until then, an additional worship service at 8:30 a.m. Sunday will be in place.
Bradshaw describes his congregation as a good mix, with a median age around 45. The church provides ``something for everyone,'' he said, including Sunday School and worship, a music ministry including choirs and an orchestra, and a full recreation program in the Family Life Center.
Mission opportunities abound. In 1995, the church sent 32 members to lead Vacation Bible Schools in New Jersey, and 60 members went to Bland County, Va., to help in a dental clinic and to teach Backyard Bible Clubs. Seven other members traveled to Georgia to aid flood victims, and several went to the Eastern Shore to help teach migrant workers.
Locally, members were involved in neighborhood ministry, constructing porches and installing wheelchair ramps.
Now the church faces the challenge of preserving all that's good while expanding for future growth.
Tucker Swamp plans to preserve their spiritual closeness through small-group leaders within each Sunday School class known as ``Care Givers.'' According to Bradshaw, with the weekly nurturing and support of these leaders, the Sunday School should become an ``extended family'' for members.
Another hurdle is preserving the church's history and heritage while expanding for future ministry. The church has met this challenge by electing to preserve the existing sanctuary, which includes part of the original church's structure; and to convert this portion of the present building into a chapel and additional educational space once the new sanctuary is complete. The architectural style of the new building will be a traditional brick structure to complement the existing facility.
Tucker Swamp was one of the earliest churches of the Blackwater Baptist Association.
Bradshaw sees his role in all this growth and progress as the ``equipper of the saints to do the work of the ministry.''
He said, ``I'm the coach and encourager, and I play alongside the team in this game.''
When Bradshaw, 33, and his wife, Jan, came to Zuni nearly seven years ago, it was a homecoming for Steve. He grew up in Isle of Wight County and graduated from Windsor High School.
After graduation from Radford College and a few years as an insurance adviser at the Virginia Farm Bureau in Hanover County, Steve felt God's call to trade his career for one in ``assurance.''
After graduating from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, the Bradshaws accepted a call to Tucker Swamp Baptist Church as their first pastorate. Their family has since grown to include Joshua, 6, and Bryson, 2. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
In 10 years, Tucker Swamp Baptist Church's membership has doubled.
by CNB