Mount Tabor Baptist Church has a long-standing history with acts of service in its Lakeland community. So, when the congregation was forced to build a new church, the community showed up for them.
“Sometimes it takes a storm to bring us together,” Pastor Matt Gillmore said. “There’s so many to name, and I’d hate to leave anyone out. But Kathleen Middle school teachers were a huge help, Nick and Moes liquor store raised $4,000 for us, and we were given $15,000 through the CARES Act to rebuild.”
Pastor Gilmore told Spectrum Bay News 9 that the devastating storm delivered a silver lining.
“God gave us an opportunity to restart,” he explained. “I was able to have the church remodeled while people joined us virtually for church.”
It has been a year since that tornado ripped through this Lakeland Community.
“It took a while, but now we are able to build the church we always wanted.”
The church asked the county to waive its permit fees to rebuild, but it was denied. Pastor Gilmore says that’s when God took the opportunity to show up and let the congregation rely on their faith.
“It happened with 9/11 and Katrina. We just have to find a way to come together without the trials,” laughed Pastor Gilmore.
Prior to COVID, the church hosted about 130 people. Now, the pastor says it holds 70 in-house and a number of people who attend virtually.