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Minnesota Church Dedicates New Worship Complex
ALEXANDRIA, MN (July 22, 2005) - The Evangelical Covenant Church dedicated its
expansive new building addition during two worship services last Sunday.
The 25,000-square-foot building includes a 600-seat worship center,
prayer room, expanded nursery and commons area, and a large fellowship
center. The building also includes new rooms for children, youth and
adult ministries as well as community activities.
The church, which averages 750 in attendance, will move to two worship
services from three, says Pastor John LeVahn, who notes that the new
facility "opens the possibility for us to do concerts and more community
events."
LeVahn, who recently started his 13th year at the church, preached the
morning message. Jim Fretheim, superintendent of the Northwest
Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, presided over the
dedication. Three special choirs sang and the services included brass
and other instruments. A crowd of 860 attended the services. "Even some
of the construction workers were there," says LeVahn.
The building cost $2.2 million and took 14 months to build. LeVahn says
he is having to adjust to the new building. "It's odd now not having the
sounds of construction," he says. "It's like, where have all the workers
gone?"
The church has grown significantly from its first days and has undergone
a number of building projects.
The church was officially organized August 15, 1946, by 13 people
meeting in the home of E.F. Hallblade. Congregants quickly purchased
property and ground breaking ceremonies were held later in the year.
Peter Engstrom, the oldest member of the congregation, turned the first
spade of earth in October.
The church's first structure was moved to the property and the first
service was held on Thanksgiving Day 1946. Due to growth, the
congregation purchased a Lutheran church building and moved that to
their property in 1948.
In 1979, the church moved into its first new structure, which was built
on 50 acres the church had purchased four years earlier. By 1990, the
growing attendance made it necessary to erect a temporary structure to
provide added classroom space and was named "The Lighthouse."
A building expansion program began in 1994 and was completed in 1995 to
provide more classrooms, sanctuary space, expanded foyer, additional
office space, new library, large nursery, large well-equipped kitchen,
multipurpose room, and an elevator.
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