ST. PARIS – To provide space for recent and continuing growth in membership and ministries, Grafton United Methodist Church is launching the Building His Kingdom capital campaign.
Church membership has nearly doubled since 2011, from 50 to 92, and is expected to grow to more than 130 by 2018. The church, established in 1836 as the Grafton Methodist Episcopal Church, is outgrowing its current facility, built in 1912. The church’s sanctuary offers little room for growth, and the church rents tents to provide adequate space for Vacation Bible School.
The $900,000 capital campaign will support two phases of construction:
Phase 1 will feature a fellowship hall, to accommodate 150 and include a kitchen; a foyer, to connect the current church building to the Phase 2 addition; a nursery; offices; and an elevator for easy access to the current building’s basement. This addition will be available to the community for weddings, receptions, graduation parties, anniversaries and other events.
Phase 2 will feature a new worship space, to accommodate 250, as well as Sunday school classrooms and a stage platform for the drama team and other purposes.
The new additions will be on one floor, permitting easy access for all. Some have difficulty attending fellowship events in the current building’s basement.
When the new construction is completed, the church’s current sanctuary will be used for small weddings, chapel gatherings and as a worship area for youth ministry.
Campaign Director John Vulgamore said, “We’ve had a vision for a long time to expand our facility to exalt our Lord God and to expand His kingdom in our community.”
A campaign celebration banquet will be held 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Westville United Methodist Church, 76 N. state Route 560, Urbana. Reservations may be made by calling Grafton Church at 937-869-0462.
A First Fruits offering to support the campaign will be part of Sunday worship at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 1 at Grafton Church, 2968 Dialton Road, St. Paris.
For information on the church and the capital campaign, contact John Vulgamore, 937-663-4503.
