A Great Spiritual Awakening occurred in the city of Norton in the early 1920's. Rev. Billy Sunday even came to Norton to hold a revival meeting in 1921. The membership of the Methodist Church grew and the church building could not meet the needs of the membership. Plans were developed to build a new church facility. While the current building on 8th Street was under construction a financial crisis occurred in the region. The coal industry was suffering and the local economic picture was dismal. After completing the basement area of the church a large retaining wall was required at the back of the building. This wall is said to have cost $30,000.00. Using a standard inflation calculator, in today's economy the wall would cost $382,471.93. Nearly as much money was required to complete the wall as was needed to build the foundation and basement area of the church. Eventually, the financial crisis of the era (including the Great Depression) made it necessary to halt construction and ultimately a roof was constructed on the basement and the congregation worshipped there from 1924 until 1951.
Walls are important. There are walls that divide and walls that support.
Dividing walls increase stress, divide us and cause much grief. Almost everyone knows about conflict and division.
Supporting walls (think about the concept of a load-bearing wall) hold up, provide protection and help.
In our faith experience we all need walls of support, walls that sustain and walls that shore us up in times of trial and stress. The great retaining wall behind the Norton Church was necessary to provide protection, support and to prevent erosion.
In our faith walk, we need to find and develop walls that are solid, strong and supportive and to avoid walls that divide and cause pain.
Paul utilized an illustration involving "dividing walls" and building construction in the book of Ephesians.
13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
