WEST LIBERTY – Quest Community Church will hold groundbreaking ceremonies at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, July 16, and at 10:20 and 11:50 a.m. Sunday, July 17, for an addition on the south side of the building located at 110 South St. in West Liberty.
The new 10,000-square-foot building will include a new 299-seat sanctuary, a large, open gathering space, restrooms and staff offices. Construction of the $1.1 million project is scheduled to begin in late July with early spring completion.
“For several years, the leadership has seen the need for this addition. We currently have three services, but we continue to grow and need additional space,” said Bill Walker, lead pastor.
Starting in the summer of 2015, a team began meeting to assess the needs of the church and develop a preliminary wish list for the new facility. This team narrowed the wish list to a needs list. The team also decided to use a design/build firm for the project. After competitive bidding by various firms, the team selected Bon Builders of Vandalia.
“While the needs assessment, proposal review and builder selection process was occurring, we launched the ‘Our Journey’ capital campaign. We hoped and prayed that we would raise $600,000. That’s what our fundraising consultant said would be a ‘really good campaign’ for our church size, location and demographics. Our congregation exceeded all of our expectations. At our pledge day in November, we raised $815,000 in gifts and pledges,” added Walker.
With the funds promised, the board approved the project. Quest then secured a loan for the project through Citizens Federal Savings & Loan in Bellefontaine.
The addition will allow for the continuation and expansion of the church’s ministries in reaching people of Logan and Champaign counties.
According to Walker, “The church is not a building; the people are the church. However, this building will allow us to expand our ministries that allow people to connect and grow in their faith. There is an excitement among our church community about what the building will allow us to do for others in Jesus.”
