CRESTVIEW — Following this morning's ribbon-cutting, Crestview’s newest church is open for worship.
In less than a year, Crosspoint North Crestview, a 19,815-square-foot campus of the former, Niceville-based First United Methodist Church, went from a wooded lot to a modern, high-tech, multi-functional church.
With its modern design, including a lofty entry common area with a café and lounge furniture, the new church seeks to attract young families raised on technology, he said.
The sanctuary has moveable seating for 400 worshipers, and a stage with enough sound and light equipment to host a small rock concert.
“It’s kind of a multi-purpose room,” Terry Harpool, Crosspoint project manager, said. “Now, people want sound and lights. People have grown up with technology and we have to compete with that. This is an approach that works well for us. We even have a fog machine. It’s quite a show.”
The church's pastor, the Rev. Rurel Ausley, said he hopes the community will respond favorably to the church’s informality.
“We invite people to come as they are, but we hope they don’t stay as they are,” he said, indicating he hopes worshipers will grow in their spirituality.
The church particularly seeks to attract younger families with children, who will be nurtured in a travel-themed “Crosspoint Kids” wing that features cartoon murals depicting countries where the church has missionaries at work, Ausley said.
“We’re all about the next generation,” he said.
Crosspoint campus pastor the Rev. Jeff Burnett said the church seeks to integrate itself as part of North Okaloosa County.
“We are here for the community,” he said. “Our goal is to come beside you to further along Okaloosa County and Crestview.”
What: Crosspoint North Crestview grand opening worship service
When: 9:30 a.m. Jan. 10
Where: Crosspoint North Crestview, 6268 Old Bethel Road, Crestview
Notes: Celebrate the completion of Crosspoint’s newest campus and tour the church. Call Erika Oetman, 678-4411, ext. 216, for information.
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview's newest church opens for worship (PHOTOS)