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MEMBERS OF BEECHER COMMUNITY CHURCH and Beecher Government officials engage in ground-breaking for their new ministry center on Church Road, on Sunday, August 16. photo by Terry Gatlin
Ground-breaking for new ministry center  Share
Pastor Brandon Markette and the members of the Beecher Community Church broke ground on August 16 for their new ministry center. They were assisted by Beecher Village President Paul Lohmann and members of the village and township center. According to Pastor Markette, this project has been in the planning for almost 10 years. The original church, on the corner of Penfield and Elliott streets, has been used by the members since 1872. ''Over the past 10 years, this congregation recognized the need for a new facility,'' said Pastor Markette. ''Its growing need for new facilities was complicated by the need for space. An aging building, with its needs for repairs, made it seem almost impossible for a small congregation to engage in a new building project.'' Then, 10 acres along Route 1 were donated to the church. The congregation began to energetically raise funds for a new building. Then, the State threw a wrench into the project by requiring the church to install a turning lane on the highway. Later, the church was approached by some men who wanted to trade property. So, the church acquired the 10 acres along Church Road.
Plans went forward to choose the best possible building with the funds the congregation had available and were able to raise. ''Eventually the building committee chose Morton Buildings and designed a new ministry center,'' said Markette. According to Pastor Markette, the church has 38 registered members, with more than 75 attending services on Sunday. The congregation hopes to move into its new building this winter. Terry Gatlin is a reporter for Russell Publications.
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