It was 38 years ago that what is now Norwood Christian Church was established. Originally, it was the Methodist building, and later it evolved into the town’s Christian church.
(One of the founding members, Davis Watson, is still there and an elder in the Christian Church.)
Five years ago, John Dotson came to Norwood from Nampa, Idaho with his wife Pam to serve as the church’s pastor. Dotson had already been a pastor at Victory Christian Church in Nampa for nearly 20 years. Before that, he worked in law enforcement, as a small business owner and a building contractor.
“They had a position here in Norwood, I saw it online, and we were looking for a smaller town,” Dotson said. “This is where we thought we would retire.”
Norwood Christian Church exists, Dotson said, for the community. Currently, Sunday school happens at 10 a.m.; Sunday worship service is at 11 a.m., and a children’s church is at 11:30 a.m.
Additionally, every Monday morning, the church hosts a men’s prayer breakfast, and the church’s youth group meets there on Sundays too.
In the past, the church has had some Wednesday church services, but at this time it does not. Previously, it’s also hosted town barbecues in the summer season. Dotson said new happenings are in the works for 2018.
Currently, more than 60 people are coming on Sundays. More than 90 came to the Christmas Eve service. Dotson said that’s a good turnout for a small town like Norwood.
“When you consider the town is 800 people, and we have 60 in church — that’s pretty good,” he said.
Additionally, Dotson does have Christian counseling services available, along with pre-marital and marriage counseling. He conducts funerals and marriage ceremonies also.
He said services at Norwood Christian are both traditional and contemporary, and Dotson said dress is casual. In fact, he always preaches in jeans and cowboy boots.
His goal is to simply give the congregation a message they can use throughout the week.
He also said the church accommodates other groups in Norwood: One local 4-H group meets there on Sunday evenings. Al-Anon has meetings there on Tuesdays. The Chamber of Commerce’s executive board has sessions in the basements there monthly.
Anyone interested in using the space, or meeting with Dotson personally should contact him.
“Want the building to be used by the community,” Dotson said.
Community is something Dotson says important. He said he cares about Norwood, and he wants other people to feel the same way.
He’s a member of the Planning & Zoning board and the president of the Norwood Chamber of Commerce. In the last few years, he’s served on the All Around Board, the Fair Board and the town’s beautification committee.
Now, he’s considering running for mayor. He said he has the time on his hands to work with local entities in town, and he has the passion to do it.
“It’s a wonderful town, first and foremost, and there are wonderful people here,” he said. “We need to continue to exist and prosper for those who do live here, and those who want to live here.”