Waypoint Christian Church to officially unveil new building on April 2
LANCASTER − Waypoint Christian Church has had numerous homes since its inception around 1900. But the congregation will celebrate the opening of its new home at 2495 Sheridan Drive on April 2.
"It's going to be a birthday celebration type of atmosphere," Pastor Brad Seevers said. "We're going to have our normal worship ( at 10:15 a.m.) We're going to have other things going on at that meeting time where it will definitely feel like a celebration.
"We're going to have food that day that we can set up very quickly right after the service and just get to know everybody a lot better. It will just be a nice day to celebrate a new church in the community."
Seevers said the church bought 12 acres of land in 2015 and decided in 2020 to build the new building, which cost about $1.2 million. The church sold it's former building at Fifth and Broad streets to another congregation, but was still able to have services in its basement for about nine months before moving some other short-term locations.
But the temporary locations are in the past. The Waypoint congregation of about 70 has been meeting in its new church since around September under a temporary occupancy permit while construction continued. Waypoint is having the grand opening now because construction is about 90% complete.
"It's been a long process," Seevers said. "But God worked it out and opened up a new door for us every time we needed a place. It's been an exciting adventure. It's been a long process, quite honestly with our build. COVID hit and building supply costs went up. All that kind of fun stuff, and the lack of people working. But we're so excited to be in our building and we invite people to it."
Seevers said the new church is built on one floor so all can access it.
"We've actually had folks that have been wheelchair bound or scooter bound able to access now and be able to worship," he said. "So, it's been real nice."
The new church sits on Sheridan Drive just before that road turns into Old Millersport Road.
"It's a great neighborhood," Seevers said. "It's a beautiful site. It's a little bit city, but it's also country. As far as the building goes, we've got a beautiful sanctuary, worship space and a nice open foyer. Nice classrooms. It's just a nice building."
He said those who have seen the building love it.
"It's really been nice, too, because in our old building, it wasn't that inviting of a structure," Seevers said.
From a pastor's perspective, he said going through the process of building a new church can be interesting.
"Just dealing with all the various things that you have to go through and all the hoops you have to jump through to get something done with the city or the state," Seevers said. "It's been an eye-opening experience. But we're laser-focused on what our purpose is. We have an exciting church family that loves one another. It's a great, caring community of people and believers."
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This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Waypoint Christian Church to officially unveil new building on April 2
