Pastor Ernie Frey prays with daughter Madison, 4, atop his shoulders, Morgan, 12, (left), Merideth, 8, and his wife, Anne. Don and Peggy McLaughlin (left) came to the "Prayer Walk Service."

Vacant land between Central Church and Houston Levee in Collierville became a field of prayers Sunday as the church considered buying the property.

The 5.74 acres east of the church, which is on Winchester, are owned by a trust and carry a price tag of more than $1.8 million, said Jim Pritchard, Central Church administrator.

Winchester currently provides the only access for the church. The vacant property -- on which the church has a contract -- would provide a second access route, Pritchard said.

"The initial thing we plan to do is put a driveway between the current property and Houston Levee," he said.

Local builder and developer Marion Waldrup owned the Houston Levee property, which was placed in a trust a year ago. Waldrup, 81, died in August.

Pritchard said the church is contemplating a 15-month capital campaign to raise funds to purchase the acreage without adding to long-term debt.

Central Church moved to Collierville from Hickory Hill and in 2003 completed its current church on a 38-acre site on Winchester near Bailey Station.

The church's property and the land for sale are part of the Ironwood Planned Development.

"I think its an answer to prayers," said Sandra Oates, 67, a church member from Germantown who participated in the prayer walk. "I think it's wonderful."

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