New church blossoms in congregation's hands
Members volunteered to help build Marlboro house of worship
BY TALI ISRAELI
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Bob Nivison, chairman of the Robertsville Bible Church building committee, shows a beam that was preserved from the historic church, which was demolished several years ago and rebuilt as a modern structure at Tennent and Church roads, Marlboro.

MARLBORO - When their work was finally completed, the congregants of the Robertsville Bible Church were in awe of what they created.

After receiving approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment in 2002 to demolish a historic house of worship and build a new church, the members of the congregation went to work. It has been three years since they broke ground at the old facility and many are overwhelmed with the outcome.

The new church sits in the same spot as the previous structure - at the point where Tennent and Church roads intersect.

The Rev. Ernest Brodie, a pastor for 15 years, said, "We were so busy we couldn't see what we were doing while it was being done. In essence, [the congregation] was overwhelmed with what God allowed them to accomplish because it was beyond their imagination."

Ron Emmons, of Freehold Borough, traces his family's history with the Robertsville Bible Church back through his great-great-grandfather, Conover O. Emmons, and his great-great-uncle, William R. Emmons.

The new church contains a nursery and three Sunday school classrooms for students in first through 12th grade. The walls in each room are hand-painted with designs to fit specific age groups. The building also has a Sunday school classroom for adults; the room is decorated with pictures in chronological order of the old church, the new building and all the construction in between.

The church's stained glass windows are original pieces from the old building, which was ages old and could no longer be safely used. However, when the entire window would not fit, the bottom piece of each window was removed and a stained-glass cross was designed and placed at the front of the church.

The new church's first services were held on Oct. 22. Brodie said that day was the most exciting part of building the new facility.

The Rev. Ernest Brodie, of the Robertsville Bible Church, Marlboro, is thrilled that his congregation has completed a building project and moved into its new home. The pews for the new house of worship were donated by a church in North Carolina.

"I just can't believe it's done, it's been so long," the pastor added.

The Robertsville Bible Church will host a dedication ceremony for its new house of worship on Nov. 4 and Nov. 5 from 2-4 p.m. On Nov. 4 the church will hold a welcome ceremony, an open house and a "singspiration" featuring music by the church and Anibal Vergara. The dedication ceremony will be on Nov. 5.

The church has been a staple in the community for more than 120 years. According to Brodie, the church was built in Englishtown in the 1840s and was moved in 1884 to its current location. Since that time the church's doctrine has changed several times before it became the Robertsville Bible Church.

In 1996, the old church closed its doors after two engineers declared the building unsafe for the congregation's use. According to the pastor, members of the congregation spent more than five years looking for the right kind of structure for the site.

During that time the congregation would gather for services at a church-owned community center across the street from the old building.

Bob Nivison, a member of the congregation for 60 years, said because the property at the intersection of Tennent and Church roads is irregular it was hard to find a structure that would fit.

When a plan was decided on, representatives of the church went before the zoning board for approval.

Since that time, many members of the congregation - most of them between the ages of 60 and 80 - got down on their hands and knees and worked for three years to finish the project.

According to Nivison, the congregation contracted out the concrete work, the plumbing, electric, heating and air-conditioning work, and the work on the parking lot and sidewalks. Other than that, the members built the structure together.

On weekdays, Nivison said, there were only about four people working at the site, and on Saturdays, between four and 10 members of the church would help out. They did not work on Sunday or at night. Nivison said that is why the project took so long to complete.

As he showed a guest around the new building, Brodie said, "Everything you see in this room, someone in the congregation had a part in putting together."

Although they did not have outside help building the church, the members of the congregation did not go without their fair share of donations.

"We had so many people that helped us with so many things," Nivison said.

A neighbor lent the church a big lift for three months rent free. Nivison said it could have cost between $2,000 and $3,000 a month to rent a big lift from an equipment company.

Other companies that donated services to the church include Marlboro Steel Erectors, Arrow Pest Control, Ken's Body Shop and Freehold Welding. The pews were donated from a church in North Carolina.

"We didn't ask for any handouts, they just wanted to give us donations," Nivison explained.

Brodie agreed with Nivison's sentiments and said, "The people in the neighborhood have been fantastic. They have supported us and encouraged us beyond our highest expectations. It makes you realize that God has got to be in control of this ... and move everybody's hearts."

Other than the cost factor, Brodie said the members of the church decided to build the structure themselves because "it was their desire to put their lives and energy into this project." He added that people tend to take more pride and care of the things they do themselves. Brodie believes the congregation now has "a better grasp of what God can do through their own hands."