Decades-old church outgrows second building, moves to third

More than sixty years ago, a handful of people founded Loveland Baptist Church in east Knoxville.

"I'd say 25 to 30 people when we first started," said Rev. Oliver Wolfenbarger, who's been the church's pastor for 30 years.

Since then, the congregation has outgrown two buildings.

Today, more than 450 people call Loveland Baptist home.

"It's a growing church. The community's growing. We keep getting bigger and we needed more room," said member Ralph Mantooth.

However, growing costs money.

"It's been a long, long hard road. A lot of people have put a lot of work into it," Mantooth said.

Many of the people who helped raise the needed money have no memories of what the church once was, because they weren't born yet.

"I wanted to help a little bit, as much as I could," said 12-year-old Millie Swinson.

Swinson and her fellow youth members held car washes and sold food coupons, managing to raise enough money to buy their own pew.

"It felt like what God was telling me to do, to help my church out," said 13-year-old Elizabeth Beeler.

"Because we're, I guess you could say, the next generation. It feels good to know we helped and had a part in it," said 14-year-old Mackenzie Hucklebee.

"It isn't going to be long before the undertaker hauls fellows like me off," Rev. Wolfenbarger said. "When you get to be 80 years old, you know you don't have much time left. So, I'm proud to see the youth get involved."

Members say the building is a dream come true.

"It's way more than we could've imagined years ago," Mantooth said.

"Feels so good, you can hardly contain it. I've been pastor for 58 years, and this is the thrill of my life this morning," said Rev. Wolfenbarger.

The total building project cost about $2 million.

Loveland Baptist hopes to continue expanding the current church by adding a balcony sometime in the future.