Church moves a-cross Sunbury

0

The Sunbury Christian Church has moved across the village — from 250 Rainbow Avenue to 870 Admiral Drive.

There will be an open house on Wednesday and a Grand Opening service on Sunday to mark the move.

Minister Mike Bratten said the new church had an attendance of 680 for its soft opening on Dec. 3, compared to a cramped 563 worshipers at the old location on Nov. 26.

“We’re expecting a lot more on Sunday,” Bratten said. “We can blow out the hallways and seat about 1,000.”

The independent, non-denominational New Testament church dates back to 1956, and at one time met in the Town Hall. It has had three builds to add on at Rainbow Avenue, the last coming in 1995. However, the two-acre site was limiting the growing congregation (from under 200 to more than 500), and the church wanted to be more visible in the community.

Bratten said the church bought the property on what is now Admiral Drive in 2008, and waited for the Communities at Sunbury subdivision to be built around the new site. In addition to the large sanctuary with expandable walls, there are rooms for all ages of children, a kitchen, lots of parking and a lit-up cross in the window that offers a stunning view at night if you are driving south on State Route 3.

Pastor Mike, in his 19th year at Sunbury Christian, was so proud of the new church that he didn’t want to be photographed for the story, insisting it wasn’t about him.

Inspired by the Ark of the Covenant, church members took a 1.8-mile walk from the old location to the new after the Nov. 26 service. The walk included taking a cross made from reclaimed wood on the old property. At each transfer point, prayers and scripture readings took place.

Church elders started, taking the hollowed-out cross made by co-founder Dan Heil from the old site to the Harrison Street Elementary playground. The cross then passed on from the oldest to the youngest members during each successive stage, from the Town Hall to the Old Train Station crossing the overpass to the Communities at Sunbury. Children then carried the cross the final steps into the new drive way.

“We wanted people of each generation to realize this is your church,” Bratten said. “We just want to keep going and growing and helping people find their purpose in life. We offer opportunities for people to grow, but none of them are mandatory.”

Sunbury Christian Church’s missionary work has included raising money for medical cures, writing letters to firemen, supporting food pantries, providing “bountiful backpacks” and home study programs “to grow in Christ.”

“God is working through us to transform lives,” Bratten said. “It is humbling that God would use people as fallible as we are to do such great work.”

http://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/12/web1_Crosswalk-kids.jpgCourtesy Photo | Sunbury Christian Church

On Nov. 26, members of Sunbury Christian Church carried a cross 1.8 miles from its old location on Rainbow Avenue to its new location on Admiral Drive. The “generational journey” had children carrying the cross the final steps of the way.
http://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/12/web1_Sunbury-Christian-Exterior-Night.jpgOn Nov. 26, members of Sunbury Christian Church carried a cross 1.8 miles from its old location on Rainbow Avenue to its new location on Admiral Drive. The “generational journey” had children carrying the cross the final steps of the way. Gary Budzak photos | The Gazette

Passersby can see the cross in the window of the new Sunbury Christian Church, now located at 870 Admiral Drive, from State Route 3.
http://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/12/web1_sunbury-christian-interior-sanctuary.jpgPassersby can see the cross in the window of the new Sunbury Christian Church, now located at 870 Admiral Drive, from State Route 3. Gary Budzak photos | The Gazette
Generational journey to new house of worship

By Gary Budzak

[email protected]

Sunbury Christian Church

Open House: Dec. 6, 6 to 8 p.m.

Grand Opening: Dec. 10, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Services: 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Christmas Eve Services: 5 and 7 p.m.

Info: http://sunburychristian.com/ or call 740-965-3821.

Gary Budzak may be reached at 740-413-0906 or on Twitter @GaryBudzak.

No posts to display