‘Blessing in disguise’: After zoning denial church steers into new sanctuary

By MICHAEL W. PANNELL — Telegraph correspondent

The Assembly at Riverside opened its doors Sunday for its first service at 3960 Riverside Drive.
It’s not the location organizers originally envisioned, but it’s where they believe God has put them.

“After a zoning denial of property across from The Shoppes at River Crossing back in December, we were disappointed our plans were dashed,” said Mark Merrill, pastor of the Assembly at Warner Robins, which is planting the new Macon congregation. “But it was a blessing in disguise. This facility is everything we wanted and better suited to what we’re doing. Physically, it’s rare you can lease a place with such a huge space for children, office space, space for fellowship and of course an auditorium.”

Merrill also serves as regional presbyter for more than 50 Assembly of God churches in the Macon, Warner Robins, Griffin and Dublin area. He said the facility is 20,000 square feet with more than 200 parking spaces. He said the location is not far from the original site and is closer to an interstate exit, the one at Riverside Drive and Tom Hill Sr. Boulevard.

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