CRESTVIEW — Praise Power and Compassion Ministries has a new home along James Lee Boulevard — and with it, more space to care for the spiritually needy.
'AWESOME' ATTENDANCE
The non-denominational church had its first Sunday service inside the 16,800-square-foot facility on June 29.
The service exceeded the average, 150-person attendance at the church's former Main Street location.
“It was awesome; we had around 250 people,” the Rev. Darrell Coleman said. “We had quite a few visitors.”
The new sanctuary — which seats almost 400 people, Coleman said — includes six classrooms, four offices, a conference room and a 3,500-square-foot fellowship hall with a kitchen.
FAITHFUL FUNDING
The new church has been in the works for awhile, church members said.
Since the ministry started in 2002, plans called for a permanent home, Coleman said. With the congregation's support, the ministry purchased the property and saved enough to get a bank loan for construction.
“It was basically done by what the people were giving,” Coleman said. “It’s not hard to get them motivated; they have been looking forward to this for some time.”
The new building allows the ministry to keep church activities in-house, instead of using another facility to facilitate a larger crowd.
“I'm so happy to be in our own facility,” church administrator Debra Pittman said. “We no longer have to have adult and youth Sunday school in the same room.”
The extra space also means expansion for its food and clothing pantries, Coleman said.
“(We are) not only supposed to meet here … but to meet the needs of people,” he said.
“That is the mandate that God, through the scriptures, has given to us.”
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: New sanctuary ribbon cutting ceremony for Praise Power and Compassion Ministries
WHEN: from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, July 18
WHERE: 2188 James Lee Blvd., Crestview
ONLINE
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview church moves into new, spacious facility