Other moms, dads and grandparents – some with shovels, some standing next to people with shovels – were all smiles, too, Sunday evening as Mamre Baptist Church broke ground on its 11,000-square-foot ministry center.

Tuesday, April 04, 2000

Other moms, dads and grandparents – some with shovels, some standing next to people with shovels – were all smiles, too, Sunday evening as Mamre Baptist Church broke ground on its 11,000-square-foot ministry center.

"This isn’t a matter of something we dreamed up," pastor Jeff Davenport told the congregation of hundreds shortly before the groundbreaking.

"This project came about because God is continuing to bless."

Even in times when Ironton is suffering job losses, the little country church at Kitts Hill has reached out to the community, worked for God and, after lots of prayer, the expansion became part of His plan, Davenport said.

"Four years ago, I challenged the people that I believed God wanted the church to be the center of the community," he said. "We are involved in the community and because of that the church is continuing to grow and this addresses that need."

Visit the church for a Sunday service, or any function, and that growth becomes apparent.

The present sanctuary holds about 250 people. Worshipers number between 240 and 250 people each Sunday.

That means Sunday school rooms, even with an annex, are overflowing.

Add to the mix 30 high school, 20 junior high and 80 junior Bible study attendees and the need for the ministry center becomes even more apparent, Davenport said.

Longtime church member Wanda Wilson couldn’t agree more.

"This church does a lot for the young people," she said. "We’re going to have things for them right here at church, right here at home."

The ministry center will expand the church’s number of classrooms to 12 and add a large multi-purpose room for recreation, plays and other activities. The present annex rooms will be used for classes, too, and office space. The new center also will feature a full commercial kitchen.

"This has been many years in the planning stage," 22-year church member Cecil Townsend said. "It was either build or set up a tent."

So, the church banded together, prayed about it, raised $150,000 and now the construction will enhance Mamre Baptist’s work with area youth, Townsend said.

Davenport agreed, adding that the ministry center came in response to what the church feels God is already doing in the community, Davenport said.

"People, especially young people, are looking for hope today," he said. "And if they see a place where there is hope then they will come. We have to be prepared to minister to them.

"There is still hope for our young people if you give them the right hope."