Go Back

 

Area's Largest House Of Worship Set To Debut

    “It’s a worship center.  It’s time to start worshiping in it.”
    After years of planning, COVID delays, and working to get the details just right, the First Baptist Church of Umatilla has decided its new, 1,360-seat sanctuary is close enough to finished.  A few details, like paint touch-ups, tech installs, and getting small group areas set up remain, but the area's largest congregation this week will get its first time of spiritual celebration in the 45,700 square foot, $14.5 million building.
    FBCU lead pastor Brooks Braswell led a tour of the building this week, days ahead of an official ribbon cutting and worship night that will serve as the building’s first official event.
    Featured is a new sanctuary with stadium-style seating, an alter with a large LED board, lighting, and carpeted walkways, the building also includes a new baptistry, classroom space, counseling areas, a supply store, a welcome area, and much more.
    “It’s taken way longer than we had hoped,” Braswell said, noting that a ceremony kicking off the project was held in 2018, before the COVID pandemic disrupted supply chains.  
    While details remain, the church has received its certificate of occupancy for the building, and has scheduled a Sunday evening, September 1, celebration event.  The night starts with a ribbon cutting - to be held on the building's east side - at 5 p.m.   After an hour that will give guests a chance to tour the facility, a 6 p.m. night of musical worship will begin at 6 p.m.
    Those in attendance will see an expansive facility that attaches to the current events center, with large walkways and gathering areas leading to ground floor meeting space and four upstairs classrooms.
    The significance of the moment isn’t lost on Braswell, but he is quick to note that the church’s current growth is simply the next phase in an ongoing church life that began in the 1860’s.
    "It's a new chapter.  And it's humbling to see a building like this.  But I want our congregation to understand that First Baptist of Umatilla in 2024 is only here and able to do this because of the body of Christ that started this back in 1862."
    Braswell said that much like the church’s earlier generations set the stage for today’s church, this generation of members is providing the infrastructure for future generations to expand further.
    “We’re doing something that is going to grow and serve for years to come.  It’s all so more people can hear the word of God.”
    Braswell said the building includes several features designed to remind members of the mission.  As examples, a large number of rocks that were part of praying over the project in 2018 can now be seen in the new baptistry, and a Bible was placed under the altar in a special casing.  
    Building such an expansive worship center has been a labor of spiritual love for the church.  Beyond the COVID delays and contractor issues that come with any project of this size, the church staff has had to oversee the project in between regular worship activities.
    Braswell, recalls a recent walkthrough to set a final punch list of needed touches that took nine hours as just one example of the time that has been put in in an effort to ensure the building is finished in a way that was conceived by planners.  Walls have been repainted, new carpet has been replaced, and wallpaper found to be lacking was pulled down and replaced.
    “It’s not perfect yet,” Braswell said of the remaining tweaks coming to the building, “But it’s close enough.  We can finish up other details while occupying it.”
    Regular services will begin in the new sanctuary on Sunday, September 8.  Services will be held at 9:30 and 10:45 a.m., as the congregation transitions to two services rather than the current three.
    “We’re going to let it evolve,” Braswell said of the service changes that will have ripple effects on small group activities on Sunday morning.  “We’ll see how it goes.”
    More changes are coming almost immediately, as the current events center will be closed once the new sanctuary comes online. A 7,000 square foot second floor will be added to that building, providing additional classroom space once completed.