SHREVEPORT, La. -- Following two years of building site controversy, Broadmoor Baptist Church voted unanimously on March 16 to proceed with a $9.9 million, three-phase construction project, according to a report in Shreveport Times.

In 2001, the 6,000-member church had to rearrange its plans to begin construction of a new worship center, a project that would have required the closure of a portion of Atlantic Avenue, which runs through the church's campus.

The Shreveport City Council voted against the road closure in May.

Neither a down economy nor rumors of war has slowed the church's plans for growth, said Bridget Sinclair, chair of the long-range planning committee.

"Now is a good time to do the things God has called our church to do," she told the congregation.

In the next couple of weeks a building committee will be formed, though groundbreaking is still probably six months to a year away, said the Rev. Chuck Pourciau.

"We'll get it done as fast as the Lord will let us," Pourciau said.

Phase I of the plan calls for a 30,000 square-foot-building for the preschool and children's programs.

The new building would free up space for Phase II, which would renovate vacated facilities for the music, singles and senior adult ministries.

Phase III would add about 10,000 square feet to the gym and renovate the building into a family life center.

A new 2,700-seat sanctuary is a "floating phase" to be completed whenever the church can get commitments to fund the estimated $13 million cost of the building.

Planning and fund-raising began in 2001 for the new complex, and the church has pledges of $7.5 million. Pourciau said that money is coming in on schedule, but it will only cover the first two phases of the plan. Getting the rest of the funding, he and Sinclair said, is a matter of faith.

"We're not going to build unless the Lord provides the funds," Pourciau said.