North Little Rock church gifts its building to a church impacted by the March 31 tornado last year

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- As the Amboy Baptist Church dissolves, it is gifting its building to the Park View Baptist Church after being wiped out by the tornado last year in March.

“It’s just this huge blessing that we got from what seemed to be we lost and now we have gained with so much more,” Dr. Brian Sheppard said.

The tornado left devastation on Friday, March 31, 2023. Park View Baptist Church spent the day cleaning up on Saturday, and then on Sunday, they gathered chairs and the congregation to have church.

“I felt like it was important for us to have church at the property that Sunday,” Sheppard said.

The following Sunday was Easter, and Sheppard says Camp Robinson blessed them, allowing them to use their chapel.

“We really didn’t know at that point where we would go from here,” Sheppard said.

That is when Amboy Baptist Church stepped in to help.

“Amboy Baptist has a large sanctuary and a small sanctuary so we, Park View, would have service in the large sanctuary they would have service at the same time in the small sanctuary,” Sheppard said.

They were helping each other simultaneously as Amboy’s congregation’s numbers dwindled.

Amboy had other struggles, such as their air conditioners being stolen, and because the church was an older building, it needed a lot of repairs.

“They approached us about April and said what would it look like if we, we gave you our building,” Sheppard said.

Sheppard was initially shocked but thankful for answered prayers and a permanent home.

“Amboy, of course you know open the arms, but it wasn’t home you know we were still a guest,” Sheppard said. “When we closed on the property it was ours.”

Sheppard says they are excited but mindful of that excitement as they know some people are experiencing a loss as the Amboy Baptist Church dissolves.

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