Church breaks ground for permanent site

By George Chaffee
Members of 3-year-old Pedernales River UMC broke ground Aug. 14 for its first permanent facility.
The building, which is to seat 250, is on the church’s 30-acre property overlooking Lake Travis. The master plan calls for the large building to later become a conference center. Smaller structures nearby are to first be office and Christian education space. Later they are to be transformed into cabins so the Phase I area now under construction can someday become a retreat facility.
The Rev. David Payne, pastor, reminded those at the worship service and groundbreaking that the real church is not a building; a church is defined by people’s relationships with God and their ministries to others.
“This structure we are about to build is simply God’s tool to help us in that ministry,” he said. “Like any building, it will have walls, but our job is to break down the walls that separate us and others from God.”
Pedernales River UMC began in the fall of 2001 when a small group of Spicewood residents, wanting a Methodist presence in the area, met to discuss starting a church. It was chartered in the fall of 2003.
The congregation has been meeting in a building across the road from the church’s new property. Members are to continue meeting there until the new facility is ready next summer.
“Our story demonstrates what can happen when people put their faith in God,” Payne said. “Others who’ve never met us pray for our success. The Southwest Texas Conference followed through with a dream and has offered its continuing support. The Austin District Board of Missions has been very generous to us, and we have many in our community who took a leap of faith to support us.
“Every time an obstacle appeared, it has been overcome by God’s grace. Anytime there was doubt, it has been removed. We have been reminded over and over that God is awesome! We have truly been blessed.”