LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Southeast Christian Church announced on March 15 that its congregation pledged $35.1 million to its Making Room for More ministry expansion campaign.

According to the church's Web site, the pledges -- given in addition to regular tithes and offerings, which support the operation of the church -- will be fulfilled within two years.

Southeast, which was founded nearly 41 years ago with 50 members, has grown to more than 23,000 members. Average weekly worship attendance is some 17,000.

"What a tremendous example of answered prayer," Bob Russell, Southeast's senior minister, told the congregation following the announcement. "We just asked God to bless and He did it. Let's never forget to give Him praise. This has been the greatest example of teamwork on the part of thousands of people that I have ever seen."

The first $3.5 million in pledges received in the ministry expansion plan will provide financial assistance to like-minded churches in and around Louisville. Ironically, one of those churches is South Louisville Christian Church, which sacrificed both money and members to start Southeast in 1962.

Other pledges will be used to build separate buildings for Southeast's 250-person staff and a new family activities center. Both will be constructed on the church's 113-acre main campus.

The church is adding the staff building to free up space for overflow numbers in its children's ministry and its Adult Bible Fellowships (called Sunday School classes in many churches).

The family activites building, half of which is devoted to youth ministry, hosted 175,000 users in 2002. The new facility that will replace it will span some 115,000 square feet, more than double the current space.

Once vacated, the old space will be reconfigured for use by the youth ministry.

According to Matt Chalfant, a church elder and expansion campaign co-chair, the project will be completed without debt.

"The fact that we have pledged $35 million dollars with the challenge of our current economy is a testimony to the willingness of our congregation to reach out to others," Chalfant said. "This campaign is not about raising money. It's about growing deeper in spirit and making a difference in our community."