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| Shiloh Community a ‘church of refuge’ for modern times |
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FRANKLIN, Ind. — In the Old Testament, Moses set up Cities of Refuge for the Israelites; people who were in trouble could flee to these cities to seek safety.
Shiloh Community Church is what I would call a “church of refuge.” It was established in 1832 as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In 1907 it became an interdenominational church; it was a church for all people and all ages. Most of the parishioners were farmers, and many still are today.
Recently, I had the privilege of painting and remodeling the basement of the church. In the 1950s the basement was dug with horse-drawn scoops. When we tried to lay the tile on the existing concrete slab, we realized the floor was wavy. We could actually see the scoop imprints from where the basement was originally dug by the local farmers.
We had to put down three-quarters of an inch of concrete leveler before we could lay our new tile. We desperately needed a new floor, but there was a part in all of us that hated to cover up the work the farmers put in so many years ago. We still appreciate their hard work.
Today, we honor their memory by holding our youth group meetings and using the room as a refuge for teens and their friends to learn about Christ.
Another part of our heritage of which we are very proud are the paintings we have on display all throughout the church and fellowship hall. Many of them were painted by Mrs. Beulah Mardis. Some of the paintings include beautiful flowers and barn scenes.
She taught many of the farmers’ wives in the area how to paint. The women worked the farms as well, but in their free time, they would go to Beulah’s studio and learn the art of painting. Many of their paintings are on display, too.
Beulah lived to be 105 and she taught lessons up until she went to be with the Lord just this past year. Some of her paintings can also be found in the Johnson County Museum and on the cover of a history book written about Franklin, titled Franklin – A Pictorial History.
Her paintings also capture the subtle atmosphere that makes our church such a refuge for the hurting, and those seeking to know a deeper walk with God.
-Rev. James E. Moore |
| 2/4/2010 |
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