BARBERTON: The congregation at Galilee Baptist Church is making a comeback from the brink of foreclosure and a court battle that prohibited its members from worshipping in the building that it has called home for more than 30 years.“God is allowing us to put the pieces back together and sound the alarm that Galilee is back in business for the Lord,” said the Rev. Emmett J. Lee, pastor of the church. “We really believe what’s to come is better than what’s been, so we have changed our name to Greater Galilee Baptist Church of Barberton – we believe God is going to do something greater.”Lee — whose father, the late Rev. Emmett Lee, served as pastor of Galilee for 13 years (from 1963 to 1976) — came to the church as a spiritual adviser in November 2009. The congregation, which had dwindled to about a dozen members, hired him as pastor in March. His first Sunday as pastor was May 8.Since then, church membership has grown to nearly 200 and attendance at the 10 a.m. service averages 100.The predominantly African-American congregation traces its roots to 1916. It moved to its current location at 70 W. Huston St. in 1979.Alcee Butler Sr., who is deacon at the church, has been a member since 1952. He said even though the building sat empty for more than a year, he and a faithful few trusted God to work things out.“It was our faith — knowing we were doing the right thing — that brought us through the struggle,” said Butler, 82. “Whenever you trust in the Lord, he will see you through.”According to records in the Summit County Common Pleas Court, things began to go awry in 2008, less than a year after the congregation hired a new pastor. In May of that year, the church defaulted on a loan for property it had purchased in Norton. Five months later, the bank foreclosed.In December, the pastor called a meeting and the majority of deacons agreed to move the church to property in Akron, change the church name and sell the Barberton property to satisfy the congregation’s debt. By March 2009, a new legal entity had been formed and services were being conducted at an Akron location and the Barberton property, which was saved via an agreement with the bank to make monthly payments.A subsequent split in the congregation led to a court battle that resulted in the church sitting empty from November 2009 to March 2011. The court case ended with the Norton land being awarded to the Akron group and the Barberton church going to the dozen members that worshipped there. That order was signed by Summit Common Pleas Judge Thomas Teodosio on Feb. 28. The group that went back to the Barberton church voted unanimously on March 16 to call Lee as pastor. Because he was serving as pastor of another church in Canton, Lee did not take the post until Mother’s Day.The congregation has a relationship with Lee, 41, that dates to his birth. Butler and other members watched him grow into his teens. When he was 13 years old, his family moved to Elyria, where his father was pastor of a church until his death in 1995.After earning his undergraduate degree in secondary education at Kent State University, Lee returned to his childhood church and began serving in ministry. While preaching at Galilee, one of the oldest African-American churches in Barberton, Lee earned his graduate degree in Christian education and biblical studies at Ashland Seminary.He also studied at the Interdenominational Theological Center at Morehouse College in Atlanta and earned a doctorate in biblical studies at Covington Theological Seminary in Rossville, Ga.But it wasn’t the degrees that impressed Marvin Chambers, a church member for 17 years. It was Lee’s heart for people.“John 10 [in the New Testament] talks about a good shepherd. Pastor Lee is a good shepherd. He knows each of his sheep by name and his sheep know him,” said Chambers, 55. “He has a thirst for knowledge and sound character.”Chambers said Lee is a perfect fit for a warm and welcoming family–oriented church.Mary Anne Williams, who is financial secretary of the church, agrees. She has been a member of Galilee for 46 years. She said the people of the church have always been accepting, understanding and loving.“The doors here at Galilee are open. Everyone is welcome,” said Williams, 70. “This is the potter’s house – he accepts us in all of our brokenness and wants to put us back together so we can reach out and help somebody else.”Increased outreach is one of the plans for the church as it rebounds. In addition to the 10 a.m. service on Sunday, the church offers a Bible study at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. The congregation is rebuilding its men’s, women’s, young adult, youth and children’s ministries to include a holistic approach.“This church has always been a pillar in the community and we want to make sure it returns to that place,” Lee said. “When people come to Galilee, we want them to find evidence that God is real and we believe we can do that by showing how God is working in our lives.”Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com.