The Collegian

Issue date: 9/6/07 Section: Focus

Media Credit: John Thompson The Hillsdale Revival Center sits just 80 yards from Oak Grove Cemetery on West Street. Its history is the subject of rumors.

Deep underground and 80 yards south of Oak Grove Cemetery, a light glows in the basement of a building often assumed abandoned.

There's no distinct ground floor and no roof - just a basement.

It's an underground church, the Hillsdale Revival Center, and it's often ignored or used as an anonymous landmark between the college and cemetery.

Wilma Roberts lives across the street.

"I see a car in the back sometimes, and occasionally there are lights on at night," Roberts said. "Otherwise, I don't know anything about it."

She's not alone.

Phillip Potter, the church's head pastor for the past 30 years, hesitates to talk about himself or the church.

Caught for a rare interview while mowing the lawn this week, Potter explained the building's main floor was destroyed during a storm, leaving the building's odd basement-only design.

He plans to gather funds for structural improvements.

Potter described his "Pentecostal" congregation as independent from any denomination and "small."

In addition to Potter and the worship leader - a dark-haired woman in her 50s, whom he addressed as "Sister Potter" - the only members in attendance at last Sunday's service were a middle-aged woman and her toddler.

Wood paneling lines the walls, and empty antique chairs, wooden with tough leather seats, sit in neat rows. Red drapes offset the room's brown and burgundy tones.

The basement is long and thin and the ceiling low.

A red and white banner declaring "HOLINESS TO THE LORD," stretches across the back of the stage, which is decorated with potted flowers, an organ and a piano.

At the service, Sister Potter sang hymns to an accompaniment track of organ and percussion, while Potter paced, hands raised.

When the music faded, Potter prayed and took an offering.

For 35 minutes he preached, roaming between audience and pulpit, gesticulating broadly and speaking loudly, his microphone running through a guitar amplifier.

Potter was home-schooled and has no formal pastoral training. He served as the Revival Center's children's pastor before becoming head pastor.

But reluctant to talk about himself or the church, Potter excused himself to attend a meeting instead of offering additional details.

"[The Potters are] really exceptionally nice," said Kathy Risk, who also lives across the street from the Revival Center.
"Mr. Potter's the kind of person that would probably do anything for ya."

But for a building that's mostly buried, even shedding a little light leaves passerby in the dark.

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