Area's Largest Congregation Doubles Land Holdings With Newest Purchase

    With its new, nearly 1,300-seat sanctuary expected to be completed by the end of the year, and a renovation of its events center to follow, the First Baptist Church of Umatilla is already looking to the horizon to see a potential future expansion project. The church last week completed the purchase of a 25-acre site just east of its main campus, a lakefront location that could serve a variety of uses in the future.
   While church leaders this week said the exact plans for the location are unknown at this time, there was a desire to secure the location for the future.
   “We don’t want to be a church to say ‘OK, we’re done,” said lead pastor Brooks Braswell on Tuesday. “We don’t want to become complacent.”
   The church paid $775,000 cash for the former orange grove along CR 450 NE, which includes nearly 1,000 feet on East Lake and includes an easement that provides access to North Orange Avenue, just across the street from the current campus.
   The purchase more than doubles the footprint of the church, with the main campus sitting on 17 acres.
   Currently, the church is in the midst of an estimated $14 million expansion, building a new sanctuary at its Hatfield Drive location. Once that project is complete, the church will immediately transition to a renovation of its events center space, which is located just north of its current sanctuary and west of the new sanctuary. That building will see a second floor that was originally conceived when the structure was built roughly a decade ago, adding needed classroom space for the church's many ministry and educational offerings.
   Braswell said the purchase has been under consideration for some time.
   “I reached out to the owners over two years ago, just to inquire. I pass that piece of property almost every day. It has a lot of potential.”
   While there are no formalized plans for the property, Braswell said events currently held off campus, like baptisms and sunrise services, could move to the site.
   “You cut the grass, and you could do any kind of field day.”
   Braswell said the property’s sloping geography is hard to see from the road, describing a ‘breathtaking’ view from the middle of the property.
   “I’ve driven past that property hundreds of times, but you can’t tell how breathtaking it is until you stand in the middle of it.
   Braswell said the deal came together as both the church and the property’s owners shared a similar vision of seeing the land used for a community good.
   “They were adamant that this piece of land have a community purpose for years to come. We thank them for partnering with us,” Braswell said, “We are very grateful to them for selling to us.”
   Exactly what form will that community use take in the years to come? Braswell says he doesn’t exactly know, but he already has the answer.
   “Whatever God tells us to.”