Church leaders share vision for recently renovated Timber Creek Church in Groves
Published 12:20 am Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Rev. Ryan Jones, left, and Rev. Dan Chanowski stand inside the soon-to-open Timber Creek Church, 4400 Lincoln Avenue in Groves. (Mary Meaux/The News)
The church as it looks this week in Groves. (Mary Meaux/The news)
Rev. Ryan Jones talks about the layout of the building. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Laura Chanowski unpacks church merchandise in Groves. (Mary Meaux/The News)
A “play room” at the back of the church is pictured. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Work is ongoing to prepare the church for worship. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Rev. Ryan Jones had the idea to place scripture on the concrete floors before the tile is put down. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Timber Creek Church is touted as a church anyone can come to. (Mary Meaux/The News)
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GROVES — Located at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard in Groves is “a church anyone can come to.”
In fact, leaders at 4400 Lincoln Avenue outline their values openly in large signs along a hallway at Timber Creek Church. Their mission is also set out for all to see — “you’re God-given potential is our mission.”
The Rev. Dan Chanowski, expansion and engagement pastor, said Timber Creek Church is a multi site church. Leaders acquired the building after the previous church, Agape Christian Fellowship, closed. They held a non-official service last Easter and have been working on remodeling the large building and rebranding.
Chanowski explained the congregation has been meeting in houses.
“We’re a multi site church,” he said. “We create community destinations where anyone can find and follow Jesus.”
The church has locations in Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Mount Enterprise and, now, in Groves.
Rev. Ryan Jones said the Lufkin site is their broadcast campus, meaning the main services are held there and broadcast to the other locations. That’s not to say the other locations do not have a full fledged church.
Jones and wife Tabitha, or Tabby, host the services and take care of the shepherding and ministry.
The Groves church is in the midst of remodeling, but a tour through the facility shows the main worship area, an area in the lobby to sit and, maybe, drink coffee, a drop-off area for children and other seating needs.
There are specially designed rooms for infants, toddlers, elementary-aged children and teens.
Jones said safety of the children is a priority, and there are cameras in the rooms. Those who work with children undergo background checks and training.
Background
Timber Creek Church was once called Lufkin First Assembly, and the original church is soon celebrating 100 years, Jones said.
Eight or nine years ago, Rev. Jeremy Yancey became lead pastor and changed the name to Timber Creek. It was a common sense decision as a multi-site church can’t be named “Lufkin” and be located in other areas.
“We kind of rebranded with a fresh mission, which is ‘your god given potential,’” Chanowski said.
Jones said they met with some of the other pastors in the area and explained they are not here to take their congregation.
“We want to reach people that don’t have a church home. People that maybe have been burned by church, people that have walked away from church or have never even walked into the front doors of a church,” Chanowski said. “And that’s why we say it’s a church anyone can come to, and we really believe that we create an environment for that.”
Community events
Two big community events are coming at Timber Creek Church in Groves.
The first is a grocery giveaway, set for Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. while supplies last.
The church also sells merchandise such as T-shirts and sweatshirts.
The grand opening service is Easter Sunday (March 31) at 10 a.m. in Groves.
