Last week, 828 people were in attendance for the grand opening of the church's latest worship center, according to NCN News and The Star Press. Boasting 45,000 square feet, the brick building is double the size of the church's original space. Today, the Middletown church's campus includes a total of 72,000 square feet serving more than 500 members.
But bricks and mortar fail to tell the whole story. The church is an exhibit of God's transformational power at work in the lives of the congregation. Members of the congregation are living testimonies of God's grace at work. Even the history of the congregation reflects the possibility thinking of a vision-focused community of faith.
Six years ago the church was facing $350,000 of debt. Today, the congregation has grown to new strengths and is comfortably servicing its $3.5 million expansion project.
The life stories of many of its members tell the story of faith at work. An ex-con testifies of deliverance from a sinful past and a powerful call to the ministry. Other members talk about feeling safe in a community that accepts them and encourages their growth in faith and discipleship. They speak of a place where there are no strangers.
The 1,000-seat auditorium boasts state of the art, worship-enhancing facilities. It will be officially dedicated April 10, 2005. One member said, "It's more than a church space … it's a community space."
Pastor Rogers says, "We just kept plodding along. One thing we've always had, we've always had a vision."
Says another member, "This is not a great big temple. This is a place of worship for Middletown, Indiana. It's not over-extravagant. It's for here."
