Church Breaks Ground On $14 Million Expansion

    Birds were released, prayers were spoken, and the dirt was flung on Sunday evening, marking the official beginning of a nearly $14 million expansion of the First Baptist Church of Umatilla. An estimated 500 church and community members gathered at the facility for ceremonies led by lead pastor Brooks Braswell.
    The 1,270 seat facility will be located on the northeast side of the church's facility, which is bordered by Hatfield Drive, CR 450NE, and Orange Avenue in Umatilla. The 17-acre facility has grown in several phases since the church moved to the property in the early 2000's from its former home on Orange Lane.
    “There is 159 years of history in this church,” Braswell said during the event, noting the times over the years that each generation’s members have taken on projects to expand the church. Braswell listed names of members of years gone by who had shown dedication to such projects, and challenged today’s members to take their place in that line. “Who will be the people in this generation to step up?,” he challenged.
    The church has reportedly raised almost half of the building's cost already. At the time of its last expansion, the current events center, the church was able to pay off the cost of construction nearly at the time of the completion. That was an estimated $4 million.
    On Sunday, attendees lined the border of the building's footprint, with church officials leading groundbreaking ceremonies at a location that is roughly expected to be the site of the new sanctuary's altar.
    After several rounds of shoveling, including pastors, finance committee, and steering committee members all taking turns, the group retired to inside the events center for a large fellowship dinner.