Marlboro Heights celebrates its new home in Killeen Posted On: Monday, Nov. 2 2009 04:53 AM By Don Bolding
Killeen Daily Herald

Marlboro Heights Missionary Baptist Church, which kept its name but moved out of its 54-year-old first location to its new one at 2901 Illinois Ave., gave its new sanctuary a real workout Sunday.

The church conducted two morning services beginning at 8:30 a.m. and running until after noon with a break of only a few moments.

The new sanctuary, which holds almost 600 people, was filled with members and guests including representatives from the Fort Worth architectural firm of Callahan & Freeman and construction firm Speed Fabcrete, which built the 25,000-square-foot structure, Michael Brannon of Killeen Engineering and Joe Burnett of First National Bank Texas.

The Rev. Shaun L. Moton, the church's second pastor-teacher in its history, presented gifts to them and others who expedited the historic change including Killeen Mayor Timothy Hancock, who said, "Our city's quality of life begins here, in the churches. Our pastors save our lives."

The highlight of the first service, which lasted from 8:30 to 11 a.m., was an appearance by gospel singer Dottie Peoples of Atlanta, who delivered a sermon in word and song with a theme that circumstances may make the future look like an insuperable disaster, but "God has the last word. Don't you believe he's going to make your ends meet? Praise him in the good times; praise him in the bad."

Peoples was backed by a praise band and the church's choir of almost 40 voices.

Church leaders had said only that "a special guest" was coming. As Moton was speaking, Peoples began singing from the wings, and the congregation began cheering as they recognized her.

Moton also recognized the late deacon and board chairman Willie E. Miller and deacon William J. Harper, who died as the church was being planned and built. He said of Harper, "You could say he was my right hand, but he was my whole right side."

Moton had built the service around John 3:16-17 and Psalm 124, which thanks the Lord for assistance in a struggle that would have ended in defeat without him.

At the closing and altar call, he said, "You can go to church and go to hell, but if you get Jesus in church, your salvation is guaranteed. Many go to church and miss Jesus, but he never closes the door on opportunities to accept him. We're not asking anyone to join this church but to meet Jesus."

Deacon and board member Larry Finnen said the church started a study in 1996 that concluded a new building would be more economical than renovating the old one at 800 Rev. Abercrombie Drive, which the church will continue using for some functions.

The street was named for the first pastor-teacher, Rev. Roscoe Abercrombie, who began with the church in 1955. He died in 1992, and the church called Moton.

Church documents cite the assistance of First Baptist Church and East Side Baptist Church of Killeen in the church's founding, as well as the Bell County Baptist Association and the Southern Baptist Convention. The documents say the Baptist Home Mission Board paid off the note to expedite the church's ministry.

The church had 18 founding members. Finnen said only one, Julia Williams, over 100 years old now, is still living.

Contact Don Bolding at dbolding@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7557.