Steve Cordle
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Family traditions can run deep and that is especially true in churches where it is common to find multiple generations of the same family sitting together in the pews. As one of the key members of the Central church of Christ in Monticello, Forest Love has been a member of the congregation continuously since his return to north Florida in 2004, but his history with the church goes back much further. The congregation was established in the 1970s, when his grandparents moved to Jefferson County from Miami. Congregations in Miami helped the Central church of Christ financially during the early years and in the 1980s, three lots were purchased on the corner of Coopers Pond Road and South Jefferson Street/U.S. Highway 19. Forest visited his grandparents, who were very instrumental in the establishment of the Central church of Christ and its growth in the early years. While growing up, Forest attended the congregation before it met at its current location, at 100 Coopers Pond Road in Monticello. Before meeting there, they met at places... Places such as homes, a storefront and a former bottling plant.
During those visits, over the years, Forest has contributed a lot of effort and time to the church by teaching classes, leading singing and generally helping guide the church, especially when they were between preachers. Currently, Forest serves as the primary song leader for the churches Sunday morning worship assembly. Like many Christians (especially song leaders) he has a few songs in the hymnal that are favorites. “Low in The Grave He Lay” is one of his favorites, as “is Our God and He is Alive!” Which is a staple in the Churches of Christ music repertoire Forest says that, Church is an extension of his family, even in times when he did not attend regularly, such as when he attended college at Thomas University in Thomasville, Ga.
When not fellowshipping with the saints meeting at Coopers Pond Road, Forest is at home in Tallahassee or at his grandmother’s house in Monticello. (Forest also teaches elementary science in Thomasville.) Like most schools, they have delayed their 2020-2021 school year. Until the students arrive in class, Forest is preparing his classroom to greet his students on September 8. He has even shared some of his science projects with the kids at church, such as making a rocket launcher out of empty half liter water bottles and PVC pipes. Once he is out of the classroom, Forest enjoys hobbies that are mostly outdoor activities that include working on his house and frequent bicycle rides on the many trails in Jefferson and Leon County, as well as paddling his Jon boat along local water ways.
Once Forest retires, he would like to travel Europe and sometime along the way, he would also like to earn a pilot’s license. There is plenty of time to make those plans, Forest still has a long way to go to retirement. Meanwhile, he will continue to be an important part of his church family.
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