By By MaryClaire Foster
Grace Fellowship Church has come a long way since it began in 2001. Starting out in a rental facility with roughly 40 members, it has grown to a 250-member congregation housed in a 6,400 square foot facility and is about to get even bigger.
Construction on a 16,000 square foot multi-purpose facility began two months ago and is slated to be finished sometime in late summer or early fall of 2009.
The facility will house a gymnasium with a stage that serves as an auditorium for their services and will hold approximately 600 people.
Hess, along with Jim Hochstetler and Calvin Schrock, are functioning as the general contractors for the building.
Hess said the building will have a full size high school regulation basketball court (which will also serve volleyball purposes), seven or eight classrooms, offices and a warming kitchen. The older building will be used primarily for children’s activities.
The new building, being built by AAA Steel of Walnut Hill, Fla., will be able to hold more than double the amount of people who attend the church, which is necessary if member numbers continue to rise.
King said the church raised money for the building by having a pledge drive and they have plans for the building to benefit the whole community.
Hess seconds the church’s desire for this to be a building for the community. “We hope it will be used more than Wednesdays or Sundays,” he said.
King is also thinking beyond Atmore in his desire for the new building to assist others.