SPRINGFIELD – First Baptist Church here has embarked on a challenge to reach out to people in their community by redesigning itself.
On Nov. 7, in a special called business meeting, the congregation voted overwhelmingly to take some major steps that will be tied to a capital campaign of approximately $1.25 million.
“The church faced our challenges with great faith, believing that the Lord is more than able to help us overcome,” said First Springfield Pastor Michael Overton. “The future is exciting as the Lord continues to be good to those whose hope is in Him.”
The first recommendation was to affirm its commitment to the downtown community. That means the church will remain downtown. Church leaders had not received any serious suggestions that the church relocate, but this decision was necessary prior to any further recommendations.
The second was for the church to pursue aggressively any opportunities to interact with the downtown community. Already the church has entered into agreements for child care and music education.
Starting soon after the first of the year, the church will host a day care program sponsored by the Lighthouse Child Care Center. This will provide Christian-based child care for some 40 children. Also, starting immediately, the church has entered into an agreement with the Crescendo Music Academy to provide space for private music lessons, instrumental and vocal. In December, the church will sponsor and partner with the Springfield Regional Opera to bring a free concert to the community. First Springfield’s worship choir will be featured in this first-of-its-kind concert being billed as “The Voices of Christmas.”
The church will explore the possibility of additional worship services to feature contemporary music. The 10:45 a.m. Sunday worship service will continue to be a blend of contemporary and traditional music.
Two more recommendations relate to repair and remodeling of the church facilities. Work has already begun on updating the heating and cooling systems to replace equipment that has become ineffective. Other repairs will relate to parking areas, roofs, bathrooms, etc. The worship center was last updated in 1986. A welcome center will be created at the entrance to the worship center, along with changes to the platform and choir areas. These will help make the worship center more attractive to guests and more effective for the music and worship program.
A strategy planning committee took 16 months to meet with representatives of four other churches and talk by phone with more than 20 other churches located in similar downtown situations.