by Jason Taylor
The Central Church of Christ in Martinsburg, West Virginia is growing! Since January 1, we have
gained new members and are enjoying the presence of visitors nearly every Sunday. Seating in
our auditorium is getting snug, and our parking lot is full. These are exciting times, and it feels
like we are on the cusp of something big, but with growth, comes challenges. Below you will find
several concerns that I was asked to address and that require our attention as a congregation.
Parking – In the fire service, we call it a near miss. The aviation industry calls it a close
call. A near miss/close call is when an event occurs during routine operations, whether that be
firefighting or flying, that nearly costs someone his life or causes grave injury. They are
considered such a big deal that there are national reporting systems for both. We have had two
such events in our parking lot over the past several months, and both involved children. Parents,
it is imperative that we keep our children from running and playing in the parking lot. Space is at
a premium, especially with snow on the ground and nearby construction. Drivers often lose the
ability to circle through the parking lot, which requires them to back up, sometimes more than 100
feet. Fencing, construction equipment, mounds of snow, and other objects are obstructing the
driver’s view. To make things more difficult, twilight or darkness is sometimes a concern. The
parking lot is not a playground, and it is the responsibility of all parents to instruct their children
of this fact. Our goal is to keep the children safe and to avoid anyone from having to live with an
event that was preventable.
Building – Like the parking lot, the building is not a playground. With growing attendance,
especially on Sunday mornings, the auditorium and foyer are very crowded. Before services,
between services, and after services, people are moving in all directions. Although anyone could
suffer a fall, several of our members struggle with mobility and require the use of walking
aids. These challenges subject them to an increased risk of falling and a more dire outcome if one
occurs. We need to prevent our children from running in the building and inadvertently causing
injury to someone. This time of year does not encourage outdoor play. Children seemingly have
endless energy that builds like a pressure cooker and requires release. Running and climbing are
necessary and fundamental parts of childhood, but they are not appropriate for the confines of our
building.
Storage – Because our congregation is growing, the need for additional items and supplies
is growing also. These items must be stored somewhere. However, they cannot be stored in the
mechanical closets located in the fellowship room and foyer. The hot water heaters in the building
were recently replaced, but in order to complete this work, the closet in the fellowship room had
to be emptied to gain access to the water heater and electrical panels. The confines of this article
prevent the full explanation as to why this is a bad idea, but trust that we cannot do this in the
future.
Legado Drive – The process of removing the house next to the church building has begun. A
contractor is currently working to remove trees, and in the coming weeks, the house will be
deconstructed. For any child, especially boys, this will be an area of almost overwhelming
interest. The number of things to climb on, around, under, and through will be enticing. There
will be pieces of equipment with buttons and levers. Random objects that our young people would
love to closely investigate will be everywhere. We will need to encourage our children to stay
away from this area to prevent accident or injury.
Please accept this article with the same concern from which it was written. The goal is not
to hurt feelings or “call anyone out” but to bring to our collective attention some challenges we
are facing. The elders are fully aware of current situations and are working to address things as
time and funding permit. As always, should anyone have questions or concerns, please reach out
to the elders or me.
—My thanks to Jason, our deacon over safety and security, for this excellent article. —RCV