Church has Grand Opening

By AMANDA GODFREY godfrey@sandusky register.com


SANDUSKY

     Sunday was a “blessed” day for members, friends and family of the Sandusky Community Church of the Nazarene.

     More than 200 battled the chilly morning air to attend the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at the new location on Milan Road.

     “It's such a blessing that we can all come together and revel in God's work,” said Keith Edwards, a member of the church board and vision team. “This new building is a blessing in itself.”

     Even though the congregation has gathered for services the past five Sundays in the newly renovated, former IAB Club building, pastor David Flack said the board felt the need to have a grand opening and invite everyone in to celebrate their new home.

     “We wanted to officially announce our grand opening and what we've been blessed with,” he said. “If it wasn't for God and the scores and scores of volunteers, contractors, everyone, this wouldn't be possible. God had this day in mind.”

     The church board contemplated building onto its Columbus Ave. location to accommodate the growing congregation, but found rebuilding was much more costly than starting over and buying new. The board stumbled on the IAB Club property that had been on the market since 2002—when it was foreclosed on by the Croghan Colonial Bank of Fremont because it owed more than $1 million on a $1.8 million loan—and entered into a contract in December. By the end of the month, the church had made the $1.17 million purchase.

     “We closed and the very next day we were in contract to sell the old church to Agape (Love) Ministries,” Flack said. “It was an amazing turn of events. We were very fortunate.”

     Flack said the church acquired three times the space it had and doubled its parking.

     Although members continued worshipping in the Columbus Ave. church until Aug. 17, they celebrated their first service in the new building in January, on wooden chairs. Flack led the service with a portable sanctuary and described his hopes for the buildings transformation. The next Sunday, the church joined with Agape Love Ministries foronelastserviceinthebuildingthathad housed their prayers for years.

     “It was a tremendous service,” Flack said. “The church is in good hands.”

     Flack said the congregation took residence at the Crystal Palace, which “warmly accommodated” them during the renovation period—up until the end of October.

     The reconstruction involved a lot of cosmetic painting and patching and dividing larger rooms into smaller ones that now house a cafe and fireside room, educational classrooms and church offices. The lower level of the building, which will provide an outlet of activities for teens and older children, is still under construction.

     After the ribbon-cutting, socializing, refreshments and Sunday School, more than 300 joined Flack in the near-finished sanctuary to “count their blessings.”

     “We have 500 seats set up, but I'd say we have the space to accommodate at least a thousand,” said Tom Andres, a congregation member and electrician who helped with the building's wiring.

     A dedication ceremony is planned for January 18, a year after the congregation first attended service in the new church.

     “We hope to grow,” Flack said. “The local churches make a difference in the community ,and we want to make a difference in ours. We consider this a new day for us. It's a real opportunity to come alongside the churches in our area and do something positive for the community and beyond, even. The ultimate goal is to get the message of Jesus Christ out and help people, give new hope.”

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