Jennie Runevitch/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - An Indianapolis church that had their building seized by the Federal Government has a new home Sunday.
In 2001 the Internal Revenue Service seized the Indianapolis Baptist Temple to pay more than $6 million in unpaid taxes and fines. For members the church was more than just a building.
Many people remember the Indianapolis Baptist Temple that produced a surreal scene, five and a half years ago, when U.S. marshals seized the building, after the church refused to pay nearly six-million dollars in back-taxes. Defiant against the court order, church members prayed at the 11th hour.
The pastor, had to be carried out on a stretcher.
"Forgive them oh God what they did today, they can take the building, but they can't take the people. It's not over as far as we're concerned, and we're gonna move forward," said the pastor Greg Dixon five and a half years ago.
That's exactly what they did.
The Indianapolis Baptist Temple met in a new building on Sunday, celebrating its first Sunday service in a new house of God.
Church member, Gary Dinkins said, "We're very proud of our new home and a place we can worship now as a membership."
"For the last 5 and a half years, we've been sort-of spiritual nomads. So to have a permanent place to worship is such a wonderful miracle," said pastor Dixon on Sunday.
While their building was gone, the church survived, even thrived. Worshipping in a high school and a restaurant while increasing members along the way, but they've made changes since the seizure.
The building they moved into on Sunday is leased, not owned by the church. They no longer operate a school or have paid employees. Still, the church defends its protest of the past.
Stephanie Roby another church member said, "We felt what we were doing was right and then we were just standing for our beliefs, our Christian beliefs."
"We wouldn't change a thing. We did what we believed," said Dixon.
Not ashamed but proud of the journey that led to a new home. Knowing the foundation of faith that never left.
The new church, which took more than a million dollars to renovate, is on Southport Road. 900 people attended the first service there.
