Church’s name change garners attention
April 28, 2021
Sheila Harris
A new sign beside the road in front of the large church on the west side of Highway 37, just south of Monett, has raised questions for passers-by.
The church, formerly designated “First Baptist Church of Monett, now bears the name “Waymark,” according to the sign.
Did they withdraw from a Baptist affiliation in favor of a more generic name, people wondered?
Tiffany Tallent, Promotions Representative for Waymark, explains.
“Way back when,” she said, “when we were raising funds to build the building we are currently in, we called it ‘Windows at Waymark,’ based on (text found in) Jeremiah chapters 30 - 31.”
When their fundraising goal was accomplished and the building was completed, Tallent said the church hosted a celebration festival called “Worship at Waymark.”
“Waymark played a huge part in our growth,” she said. “We want our focus, now, to not only be a family church, but a church for the community to feel like a family.
“The book of Jeremiah talks about “Setting up signposts or ‘Waymarkers’ to mark the trip home,” she added. “Waymarkers communicate or direct people to a place: a place pointing to Jesus. As a congregation, our job is to help point people to Jesus, which is how Waymark Church was born.”
Tallent says the church is still technically called First Baptist Church of Monett, but the congregation is now doing business as Waymark Church.
Sheila Harris
A new sign beside the road in front of the large church on the west side of Highway 37, just south of Monett, has raised questions for passers-by.
The church, formerly designated “First Baptist Church of Monett, now bears the name “Waymark,” according to the sign.
Did they withdraw from a Baptist affiliation in favor of a more generic name, people wondered?
Tiffany Tallent, Promotions Representative for Waymark, explains.
“Way back when,” she said, “when we were raising funds to build the building we are currently in, we called it ‘Windows at Waymark,’ based on (text found in) Jeremiah chapters 30 - 31.”
When their fundraising goal was accomplished and the building was completed, Tallent said the church hosted a celebration festival called “Worship at Waymark.”
“Waymark played a huge part in our growth,” she said. “We want our focus, now, to not only be a family church, but a church for the community to feel like a family.
“The book of Jeremiah talks about “Setting up signposts or ‘Waymarkers’ to mark the trip home,” she added. “Waymarkers communicate or direct people to a place: a place pointing to Jesus. As a congregation, our job is to help point people to Jesus, which is how Waymark Church was born.”
Tallent says the church is still technically called First Baptist Church of Monett, but the congregation is now doing business as Waymark Church.