Construction is officially underway on Lundar Lighthouse’s new home.
Lundar Lighthouse, a local Pentecostal church, is currently constructing a new building for worship. Church pastor James McGillan said the building is necessary to accommodate the church’s growing congregation, which has outgrown its current space.
McGillan said the current building’s capacity is around 60 people, which means every chair and pew is filled. Between Sunday service, youth group, and children’s group, McGillan said there are more than 100 church members or attendees, so if everyone were to get together at once, they wouldn’t all fit in the current church.
The call for a new church started three years ago, and soon after it was decided the building would happen, planning began, and the project took off. The church started by securing the new space for the building, putting gravel in, and levelling it out. Ground was officially broken on the new church site six weeks ago, and construction began. As of last week, the footing and foundation of the building was done, which McGillan said was delayed because of last year’s fall and this year’s spring conditions. Now, they’re working on backfilling the space around the footing and will put up the walls and the roof within the next month.
The 6,000 sq. ft. church will hold up to 150 people when complete. It will feature a large stage and sitting area, a sitting space, a classroom, a youth room, and a few offices. McGillan and his wife drew up the plans. The pastor said that though not every cost is available, the church board believes this project will cost between $1 and $1.5 million. Funds will come from existing church funds, donations, and money from recent (and future) fundraising efforts, like the barbecue and fundraiser. McGillan said the community has rallied behind the church to support this project, and even non-members donate time, equipment, and money to the cause.
McGillan said if construction goes well and stays on track, Lundar Lighthouse should be worshipping in its new building next summer. They’re still unsure what the church will do with its current building once it’s out of it, but the board will soon decide on that.
Lundar Lighthouse is continuously fundraising for their new church build. To donate to the cause or to keep up to date with their progress, follow them on Facebook.
“We want it to be a church for the community and for the area,” said McGillan. “We just want it to be a church for anyone who wants to attend church, make it a community place for the surrounding area.”
