By By Adam Prestridge
Although Canoe Baptist Church is small in numbers, it is large in faith.
Despite declining numbers over the years, the church celebrated its 124th anniversary on Sunday and visitors with children that attended the homecoming service were treated to some colorful changes.
Natalie Donaldson, who attends the church, recently renovated the church’s aging nursery, so her daughter, Paisley, and other children could enjoy a more tidy room with a Biblical theme. The 26-year-old said all it took was a little paint and some TLC.
Donaldson said the walls in the room were painted green and blue to represent the grass and sky. The colors also help her murals of Noah’s Ark filled with animals and God’s other creations come to life. She said the project took about three weeks to complete, but she did not work everyday. She said the murals took the longest because she first drew them out on paper.
Donaldson said prior to the room’s completion, she kept the door locked, the windows covered and placed a “Do not enter” sign on the door in order to keep the final result a secret.
The room was unveiled on Father’s Day, but was a treat to those in attendance Sunday.
In addition to a fresh coat of paint and colorful murals, Donaldson said the room was cleaned from top to bottom; toys were thrown away and cleaned; rugs were purchased to spruce up the room; furniture such as tables, chairs and a crib were sanded and repainted; curtains and blinds were hung and some new furniture and supplies including a second crib, a changing table and diapers, powders and lotions were added.
Several members of the congregation including Donaldson and her husband, Steven, gave monetarily and donated items in order to redesign the room.
According to Donaldson, the congregation plans on sprucing up some of the church’s other rooms in the future and will also design a game room for youth.
As for Donaldson’s God given ability to draw, she said it comes natural.