The kids have saved every bit of change they could find helping to pay for this building. It's almost finished...Matthew's class met in his soon-to-be classroom and wrote verses on the concrete floor.
When you are standing outside this church, you are literally up on top of a hill and you can see all around you! It's really stunning. We've been part of this church since there was nothing up on the hilltop but the open air tabernacle. We helped build the sanctuary that is up there, our names are engraved on bricks inside the entryway. Even Joshua's.
Both jedis have been very proud, watching the church that they helped pay for ;-) go up.
|
Religion & Faith: Brick by brick, stone by stone
First Baptist officials plan to complete building project by March
January 3, 2004 -- Jim Dawson wants members on their knees. He believes prayer is the answer for completing the First Baptist Church of Broken Arrow's building project, debt free, by March. Dawson, associate pastor of special projects and property for the church, has helped to oversee the project since it began in September 2003. Since his arrival in 1986, the Rev. Nick Garland, pastor of the church, has been firm about having a debt-free church, Dawson said. That was the goal for the church's latest project, which includes an education building and a student center totaling more than 60,000 combined square feet. Dawson said financing of the $6 million building project is on target and the church is less than $1 million away to completion. Dawson believes the project will be complete in about three months. Funding of the project came through the pledges of church members, Dawson said. Watching construction of the two new buildings has been fulfilling for church members, he said. The education building is a two-story, 50,000-square-foot building giving the church more classroom space. The first floor, a secured area, will house the preschool, Dawson said. The second floor will have rooms available for children and adult classes. The student center, a 10,000-square-foot facility is the former open-air tabernacle that has been closed in for youth programming, Dawson explained. Dawson said excitement is building among members of the church and church staff. He said it was satisfying to watch the construction crew finish the cross on the youth center. Dawson said he enjoys hearing members say to one another, "This is where my room is going to be," as they look at the nearly completed buildings. But more than erecting two new buildings, Dawson said, the project is helping to fulfill Garland's vision, "To be the lighthouse on the hilltop." "We want to be a place to come for people who are hurting in the world and need a relationship with Christ," Dawson said. "Our focus is outward, not inward." Dawson predicts other building projects in the future. The next project, still in the planning stages, is a combination day center and fellowship hall with a full kitchen. "But for now, we will spend some time regrouping," Dawson said. He said time is needed to complete the existing project, as well as plan for the next one.
|
