Dishman Baptist congregation will celebrate in new space

For the past year and a half the congregation of Dishman Baptist Church traded in their pews for the hardwood floors of the gym at North Pines Middle School. Now, the eagerly anticipated building addition is complete and members will worship for the first time in their new space at 11 a.m. Sunday.

The project doubled the size of the sanctuary, which now seats 400, and added 12 classrooms, said the Rev. Gary Bass. The original building also underwent significant changes, including bringing the kitchen from the basement to the ground floor, “much to the delight of our kitchen people,” Bass said. “We went pretty whole-hog on the remodel.”

The entire project came with a $1.5 million bill. “It could have been worse. We utilized a lot of volunteer labor.” The Baptist Convention publishes a list of church building projects around the country and volunteers select which ones they want to work on, Bass said. People came from near and far to pound a few nails at the 53-year-old church.

The church usually attracts 250 people to worship each Sunday, too many for the old 200-seat sanctuary. The church added a second worship service a few years ago, but will now go back to one service each Sunday in its new, larger space.

The congregation is “pumped” about moving back to their church, particularly after spending the last few hot Sundays in a nonair-conditioned gym at North Pines. But Bass had nothing but praise for the church’s temporary host. “They’ve just bent over backward to help us,” he said. “We can’t complain about a little bit of heat.”

The church plans a formal dedication ceremony on Sept. 17, after all the little bits and pieces of the project are completed. But the congregation will overlook a little missing carpet and other finishing touches as they revel in their new home on Sunday.

Vacation Bible schools

•Valleyford Community Church will host a VBS for children in grades K-6 Monday through Friday. Children will meet from 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. daily. The theme for the week is “What is God Up To?” There is no charge. Call the church at 926-2142 for more information. The church is located at 13015 S. Madison in Valleyford.

•Camp Turned Around will by hosted by Foothills Community Church Aug. 7-11. The VBS is open to children age 4 through middle school. Children will gather at the church, 11102 N. Forker Road, from 9 a.m. to noon each day.

Parents are asked to call the church at 926-4971 to register in advance.