There are several ways to "go to town" with any renovation project, and Caledonia-based
Cornerstone Church has chosen to do it literally by purchasing the former Christian Science building at 48 Lafayette Ave. SE in Grand Rapids'
Heritage Hill neighborhood. Cornerstone Church's main campus remains at 1675 84th St., Caledonia, but establishing a second campus in a central Grand Rapids neighborhood has been an idea for about five years, says Executive Director Pennie Westers.
The circa 1904 structure with its 1962 addition offers 22,000 square feet for a main worship center, a children's worship area, and community gathering spaces. Westers says the building has been maintained in "beautiful condition," which meant that to get it move-in ready required only a few changes to accommodate new technology and a stage for the worship band.
"We added wireless Internet access because we do a lot of our work wirelessly, we offer electronic giving, and people who attend our church might use a Bible app," Westers says. "We also put in screens to project video and song lyrics because we don't use hymnals."
Some seating was removed to make way for the stage area, and A/V technology was installed in the children's worship area for videos and song lyrics.
Plans include adding a kitchenette and café area for gathering before and after services, and adding a youth program geared toward junior high and senior high students.
Westers says the worship center has seating for about 450. The church opened last Sunday with a 10:30 a.m. service. There is no dress code -- even the pastor wears jeans -- and Westers says anyone interested in attending a service needs to "just show up."
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
Photos courtesy of Cornerstone Church
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