Our Miracle Church

A Church Built By Miracles   - By: Sis. Mary Hanscomb and Sis. Wanda Hardy

When our Lord physically walked upon the earth many years ago He performed many miracles. He made the water turn to wine, the lame to walk again, the blind to see and even the dead to live again.  He multiplied a few loaves of bread and fishes to feed a multitude.  But God didn't stop performing His miracles there, the fact that God still performs miracles today is proven at 1410 Bearwallow Road in Ashland City, TN. 

On that very spot stands a beautiful miracle known by those in the community as the Apostolic Tabernacle, United Pentecostal Church.  This place of worship is there due to the prayers and hard work of a few faithful saints who strongly believe that God is still performing miracles.  He hears our prayers and starts to work on our behalf. 

These few saints gathered together to worship in  a small rental storefront property at 609 N Main Street in Ashland City, with a leaky roof.  Even though the number in attendance in the services were low, ranging from six people to twenty on special occasions, the faith in God was high.  On these special occasions there was standing room only leaving little room for growth.  They all knew it was God's will to build a bigger church but the funds were low if not non-existent.  A large percentage of these faithful saints were senior citizens on fixed income.  They had no idea where the money would come from, but they knew God would provide. 

The first miracle came when God led Bro. Hanscomb, the pastor, to a perfect piece of land.  The saints went to work praying and putting together fundraisers.  God helped this small group raise $36,000 in one year, enough to pay off the land.  Once the land was paid off the building stage began, but there were many hurdles to overcome.  As money for the supplies were needed prayers were sent up.  God either sent the supplies needed for the current job at hand or sent the money to buy what was needed.  He also sent volunteers with the necessary skills, willing to work for the Lord.  These volunteers came in the form of strangers, merchants in the surrounding area, and even leaders of other churches of various denominations.  It seemed a whole community of churches (Baptist, Church of Christ, Catholic, Nazarene and others) came together to help this one church on Bearwallow Road be built.  That coming together of different denominations by itself is a miracle from God!  Donated money, material, and labor poured in.  Through the help of others carpet was installed, paint donated, interior decorating done, light fixtures donated and installed, porches built, among many, many other things. 

The ladies of the church got together and raised over $40,000 through bake sales, yard sales and bazaars.  Another one of God's miracles came one Saturday morning.  As the ladies prepared to put things out for one of those yard sales it began to rain.  Not a gentle sprinkle here and there but a hard down pour.  At that time $1,500 was needed.  Sis. Hanscomb, the pastor's wife, called for prayer.  The prayers went up, before long the rain stopped and the people came.  $1,600 was made that day in just three hours.  God provided more than was asked for. 

On another Saturday yard sale $3,600 was made.  And yet again another $1,500 was made at a Christmas Bazaar one day when many of the other vendors sold little to nothing.  It wasn't that the saints did anything special that made the difference, but it was the faith of the saints in a God who does something special!

As if all of these miracles weren't enough God wasn't through yet.  His hand was still busy working miracles on the day  that Bro. Hanscomb fell from the scaffold down 12 feet onto a concrete floor with the scaffold landing on top of him.  God protected Bro. Hanscomb from severe injury.  The doctors in the emergency room were amazed! God also helped Bro. Hanscomb battle an illness during this time.  It seemed the devil was at work trying his best to prevent this church from being built, but the all-powerful God was also at work.

After three long years of hard work and dedication to the task, Bro. Hanscomb and his helpers were wearing down.  They needed more help.  This was understandable since these men also worked their daily jobs in order to support their families.  The all-knowing God sent Donnie Bledsoe and his workers to step in, take over and complete the job bring it to building codes.

From start to finish it took four long years to build the church.  On November 13, 2004 the church was dedicated to God.  Close to 100 people were in attendance that day.  Among those were important pillars of the community such as the County Judge, the Sheriff, and another representative of the police department.  The dedication was wonderful.

It felt good to be finished with the construction of the new church.  The saints knew they were blessed.  Still there seemed to be something missing from this beautiful church.  A steeple pointing the community to Heaven towards the God who made it all possible had yet to be purchased.  The fact was the funds were again depleted.  Bro. Hanscomb asked the saints to once again pray for this need.  Within weeks of the prayer request, the County Judge of Ashland City donated all the funds needed to purchase and install a beautiful white steeple with a blue light shinning in the night. 

This miracle church, now truly complete, has been appraised at $350,000 with about 75% of it already paid.  Just as God multiplied the loaves and the fishes He multiplied the offerings and work of this small group of faithful praying saints.

The Attendance at 1410 Bearwallow Road is now running in the high 30's to mid 40's on a regular basis.  On special occasions the attendance has been in the 60's.  The saints are now praying for revival and as we all know GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS AND PERFORMS MIRACLES!

Land after it was purchased in July of 1996

Ground Breaking Ceremony - Easter Sunday 2001

Construction Begins