Church Adjusting to Temporary Location

Ozark Center Point Place is, like most shopping centers, pretty desolate on Sundays.

Doors closed everywhere you look.

Well, at least for now, one door is wide open on the Sabbath.

"There's a lot of things that are still not completed," Pastor Billy Coffman says.

Victory Church in Springdale is three weeks into their temporary location after being displaced due to an I-540 interchange project.

What used to be a furniture store is now the Lord's house.

"We have rooms that are noisy," Coffman says.

The building consists of a doorless sanctuary, curtains for borders and cubicles installed to designate rooms and offices.

"No complaints... There have been lots of suggestions," Coffman says.

The church plans to move to a permanent location in Tontitown where land has already been purchased.

But the cost for that to happen is too high for the church to handle right now.

"As it is at this moment, we do not have the funds that it will take to build a new facility," Coffman says.

He's hoping the city of Springdale can help.

Mayor Doug Sprouse says the city has already made an offer for their old building, but Coffman says it's not enough.

"You're spending taxpayer money, we can't just go out and pay people what they say they're property is worth," Sprouse says.

 "We've got to base it on an appraisal."

Which the city did.

Victory Church can also get it appraised and unless a settlement is reached both sides could find themselves in court for a judge or jury to decide the final total.

"We're trying to help any way we can," Sprouse says. "Any way we legally can and we'll continue to do that."

Pastor Coffman adds: "God's got to give us a miracle from somewhere, that's the only way i know how to put it."