YUBA CITY, Calif. -- A Yuba City church is expanding with the help of non-conventional methods that incorporate prayer, design concepts and evangelical outreach, in addition to money.

According to the Appeal-Democrat, the new $1.7 million Church of the Nazarene sanctuary is being constructed on 12 acres next to the existing church, in order to help accommodate its growing congregation.

The building is being funded through congregation donations and a program called Building God's Way, a concept developed by Daniel Cook & Associates of Ogden, Utah. Its mission is to help Christian churches and schools construct new buildings. The program encourages faith, prayer, simple design concepts and evangelical outreach to accomplish goals.

Churches enrolling in Building God's Way can access construction supply companies offering material discounts.

"They have a whole ministry of building," said Bob Best, Church of the Nazarene's worship and arts director. "It's something really kind of new."

Church of the Nazarene, whose congregation has doubled in the last three years, is some 680 strong. But its sanctuary seats only 400, necessitating multiple weekend services.

Its new sanctuary, which is expected to be completed in six months, will accommodate about 700 people and double as a gymnasium, Best said. The current sanctuary will be used for the children's program and the church band.

During construction, the congregation plans to minister to construction workers by writing scripture passages on girders, wash their company vehicles for them weekly, and feed them lunch.

"It makes the congregation feel they are part of it," Best said.