Published: April 19, 2008 12:40 am            

Jesus' church Bethany Baptist Church opens new addition to their church.

Recently the congregation of Bethany Baptist Church completed construction on their additional structure that houses more Sunday school space, a family center, and an upstairs youth space. Pastor Marvin Cooper says that the structure came out even better than originally imagined.

"When we started, we just knew that God wanted us to build a building," Cooper said. "We were outgrowing our facility, and needed the space."

After plenty of research and advice from professionals, the congregation at Bethany decided to make the building bigger than what was suggested.

"I'm glad that we didn't do what we thought we could do, and instead trusted in God. We knew that God would make a way." Cooper explained.

According to the Pastor, once God moved, things just happened. He explained that this adventure taught the congregation of Bethany how to be more faithful to God.

"It helped people to not walk by sight, and to see what faith can do. People just began to believe, and things really came together," Cooper said.

Inside the structure you won't find any names on doors, or any monuments to any person. Pastor Cooper says that there is only one name that will be placed on any wall in the building.

"This building is owned by Jesus Christ," Cooper said. "We just get to use it for His glory."

Paster Cooper said that there was a verse of scripture that the church clung to during the construction.

"2 Corinthians 5:7 says, 'For we walk by faith, not by sight.' If we give God what we have; He will do a lot with it; but we have to turn it over to him," Cooper said.

While the new added space has been a wonderful enhancement to the church, Pastor Cooper stresses that work is not done. There are still plans to connect the new building with their original building, and even installing an elevator for the handicapped church members.

        

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