By David Rogers. March 14, 2011. BLOWING ROCK -- Faithbridge United Methodist Church's capital campaign for its building project is titled, "See What God Sees."  Thanks to last month's beginning of construction, now the public can actually see what God has in mind for Faithbridge on Aho Road.

Faithbridge's pastor, Rev. Marianne Romanat, told Blowing Rock News on Monday that this is the first of three construction phases. "Phase one will cost about $600,000," Romanat said. "The center section that is going up in phase I will be very utilitarian, and will not necessarily look like a traditional church.  It will be a multi-purpose worship space.  In addition to use as our sanctuary, it will also be available for community-type meetings and our youth mission.  There are no pews, but stackable chairs will be used for worship services so that the space can be used for other purposes, too.  In the front, there will be a lobby and fireplace, and a coffee and refreshment bar to one side.  Of course there will also be restrooms and storage areas.

"A very special space will be the prayer room," Romanat continued. "which is a gift to the church in memory of Mr. Billy Cannon by Mrs.Kaye Cannon.  The second and third phases of construction will add wings to each side of this first center section."

Phase I work is being performed under a nine-month contract, with completion expected by October of this year.  Faithbridge, which currently worships on Sunday mornings in the Blowing Rock School Auditorium, purchased the Aho Road property in November of 2006. Where the sanctuary is being constructed was formerly a trailer park.  Romanat told Blowing Rock News that as the purchase transaction was closing, Faithbridge's leadership was helping the residents of the trailer park find new locations.  Once the relocation process was completed, then the capital campaign for the church construction was launched in the fall of 2007.

An interesting side story of the property purchased by Faithbridge is that it included the boyhood home of longtime Blowing Rock area resident Rick Coffey.  Mr. Coffey is the driving force behind the Heart Hands and Hope for Haiti organization, and will be leading a nine-person team in a relief mission to Haiti from May 14th to May 22nd. The group's leaders also include Blowing Rock's Lee Hyett and Boone's Dr. Jeff Sutton.

One of Faithbridge's very special missions is right here, in Blowing Rock: the Casting Bread Food Pantry that serves over 100 people each week, on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10:30 am to 3 pm, next door to the church offices at the Aho Rd. location.  That effort is led by Paster Tracey Karcher, Director.

Comments: