ROANOKE RAPIDS — Once in a while you meet someone who makes such a difference in life, you can’t begin to know how to say thank you. That’s how the members and especially the children of the Roanoke Rapids Church of God feel about Dwight Adams, who celebrates his birthday today.

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“My impression was that this is a very drab and spirit depressing room,” said Adams of the Children’s Church Sanctuary when he first came to visit.

Adams is a retired military professional originally from Kinston. Moving to Lake Gaston in 2004, he started spending more time on his hobby as an artist. Adams attributes his talent and love for art to his mom, who first encouraged him to doodle.

As he matured, Adams produced a few original oils, earned an Associate’s in Fine Art in 1981, and in the 1990s produced murals for Easter and Christmas. “My art was often interrupted for long periods by my career,” said Adams.

One day, Adams took notice of the Children’s Church Sanctuary and couldn’t shake the feeling there was something missing. “Our children’s church seemed to lack the message in the decor,” he said. “It’s my feeling that when children are introduced to church, the first impression as well as when they depart, should be a positive, reassuring experience which will lead to curiosity about God and Christianity.”

Adams toyed with some ideas and thought about some of the biblical impressions that were made on him as a child. Forty-nine weeks later he’d created a masterpiece, according to the congregation.

Using the wall panels, Adams encased murals within compartments of painted arches and columns. He chose biblical scenes including Moses and The Ten Commandments, Zachius, The Parable of the Lost Sheep and others ... 11 in all, to inspire the children to learn more about their faith.

“When the youth came to church and saw Moses, they immediately placed a semi-circle of chairs around the mural to protect it from being touched,” said Loretta Mason, friend to Adams and assistant in the project.

Mason said Adams is described by the youth as “cool”— one of the top compliments an adult can hope to hear from a youngster today, according to her.

She said she believes it’s largely in part to his wonderful gift to them through the church. A gift that intrigues and reminds them of the reason they are there. A gift that gives them reason to explore.

“It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words,” said Mason. “Our youth have 11,000 words helping shape their young lives. Thank you, Dwight Adams for your labor of love.”