Grateful Living
Open Doors Pt 5 - Beyond the Open Door: From Robertson St to Nikenbah
By the early 1990s, Hervey Bay Baptist Church was growing steadily—the existing facility on Robertson Street couldn’t support the momentum for much longer. In a bold step of faith, the church purchased a neighbouring one-acre block for $57,000. With expansion in mind, the building committee spent a year drafting plans for a $1.3 million facility, and progressed to council approval.
But as preparations progressed, an unexpected unease settled over the committee. Despite the plans on paper, each member sensed a quiet prompting from God—this wasn’t the path to take. When the committee brought their conviction to the members, the response was remarkable: a shared spiritual clarity that God was calling them elsewhere.
What followed was a search that led to an unexpected place—a 52-acre former pineapple farm in Nikenbah. It was far from the familiar, but full of possibility. And it felt right.
On June 30, 1996, after 13 fruitful years, the church held its final service at Robertson Street. Pastor Keith Stevenson delivered a message titled “The Open Door”, encouraging the church to embrace what lay ahead. As the congregation sang “Beyond the Open Door” by the Gaither Vocal Band, the lyrics echoed the moment: a call to step into God’s unfolding plan.
Following the sale, the Salvation Army graciously allowed the church to rent back the old building for six months. What followed was a season of “beautiful chaos.” Sunday services moved to the Senior Citizens Hall, Camp Barrawinga hosted children’s ministry and offices, and youth groups scattered across the Bay. It was inconvenient, yet marked by unity, resilience, and humour—“If you can find us, you can come.”
Eventually, a new chapter emerged. The Nikenbah building would seat 700 and become a hub for worship, outreach, and transformation—a space designed with the whole community in mind.
The journey from Robertson Street to Nikenbah wasn’t simple. It was a path of faith, filled with challenges, detours, and God’s leading. And just beyond the open door, a new season was waiting—one that God had prepared long before they arrived.
But as preparations progressed, an unexpected unease settled over the committee. Despite the plans on paper, each member sensed a quiet prompting from God—this wasn’t the path to take. When the committee brought their conviction to the members, the response was remarkable: a shared spiritual clarity that God was calling them elsewhere.
What followed was a search that led to an unexpected place—a 52-acre former pineapple farm in Nikenbah. It was far from the familiar, but full of possibility. And it felt right.
On June 30, 1996, after 13 fruitful years, the church held its final service at Robertson Street. Pastor Keith Stevenson delivered a message titled “The Open Door”, encouraging the church to embrace what lay ahead. As the congregation sang “Beyond the Open Door” by the Gaither Vocal Band, the lyrics echoed the moment: a call to step into God’s unfolding plan.
Following the sale, the Salvation Army graciously allowed the church to rent back the old building for six months. What followed was a season of “beautiful chaos.” Sunday services moved to the Senior Citizens Hall, Camp Barrawinga hosted children’s ministry and offices, and youth groups scattered across the Bay. It was inconvenient, yet marked by unity, resilience, and humour—“If you can find us, you can come.”
Eventually, a new chapter emerged. The Nikenbah building would seat 700 and become a hub for worship, outreach, and transformation—a space designed with the whole community in mind.
The journey from Robertson Street to Nikenbah wasn’t simple. It was a path of faith, filled with challenges, detours, and God’s leading. And just beyond the open door, a new season was waiting—one that God had prepared long before they arrived.