First Baptist Church of Palmer set to open new building

Palmer commuters watching the construction on the hill behind Colony Kitchen now know that a church is ready for worshippers.

First Baptist Church of Palmer will open the doors to Phase I of its new facilities on Feb. 8. "Celebration Day" begins at 9:30 a.m. with age group Bible study, an 11 a.m. "Celebration Worship" and a potluck lunch at 1 p.m. to complete the day. The public is invited to the day's events. Special guests included David Baldwin, the executive secretary/treasurer of the Alaska Baptist Convention, and representatives of the firms involved in the relocation and construction process.

The relocation of the church facilities is a result of the sale of its Cobb Street property to Fred Meyer Stores Inc. in April, 2003. The new facilities are located on a 16-acre site at 1150 E. Helen Dr., across the Glenn Highway from the Alaska State Fairgrounds, behind Colony Kitchen. The church has been meeting at Palmer High School for Sunday worship since May, 2003.

Phase I consists mainly of church offices and a fellowship hall that will also serve as a worship place. Phase 2, a 12,000 square foot worship center, is under construction and should be complete later this fall. It will provide seating for more than 400 people. When completed, it will be equipped for drama and visual presentations. Plans are being made for Phase 3, a classroom building, to be constructed within 24 months to complete the initial campus development.

Long-term ministry development currently includes recreation fields, an outdoor amphitheater and a family recreation complex.

Southern Baptist volunteer construction teams from Arkansas and North Carolina brought more than 150 people to the church last summer, donating five weeks of labor to build the initial structure. Teams from North Carolina, Texas, Louisiana and Georgia have committed to 10 weeks of volunteer construction workers for the summer to help complete the worship center.

First Baptist Church was founded in 1952 as a mission of the First Baptist of Anchorage. The initial building at 505 S. Bailey St. was also a product of volunteer construction teams. Upon the church's relocation to the Cobb Street property in 1996, the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church purchased the Bailey Street property and continues to use that facility.

First Baptist Church only occupied the Cobb Street Building for three years. As a result of the sale of the property to Fred Meyer Stores last summer, the 1996 building was moved and is now being used by Crossroads Community Church of Wasilla.

"This has been an exciting time. Two years ago we were planning a small addition to the building on Cobb Street," said Bruce V. Rowell, pastor of First Baptist Church since 1997. "God clearly opened the doors for much more than we ever dreamed. We've learned that God's plans are often larger than our plans. Two years ago we had no idea we'd be where we are today. That is a testimony to God's greatness."

In December, Kay Carter joined the church staff as ministry development coordinator. Carter has worked in Baptist churches and associations in Alaska and North Carolina. She has been on the staff at Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center in North Carolina, a national conference center operated by the Southern Baptist Convention. Most recently, Carter was the life skills instructor for the Alaska Baptist Family Services in Anchorage, an agency of the Alaska Baptist Convention.

Her role at First Baptist Church will be to offer leadership in developing and coordinating ministry programs for the church with specific immediate attention to youth ministries. Other areas of immediate development include music ministries, drama teams and a variety of mission action events.

The church is making plans to bring Crossfire Ministries to the Valley, an international Christian basketball ministry that will working at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece. The church is also coordinating the 2004 World Changers event in the Mat-Su Valley.

World Changers came to the Valley in 2002 and 2003. It is a Southern Baptist ministry to renovate and improve homes. It is composed of high school and college students. In 2003, more than 20,000 students participated in World Changers events around the world.

Vacation Bible School and Backyard Bible Clubs are a part of the summer plans for ministry in Palmer.

For more information, interested people can call 745-4483 or go to www.firstbaptistpalmer.com.