When Mount Zion Baptist Church, Huntsville, met to dedicate its new sanctuary March 30, the crowd was already spilling out of the pews and into chairs placed in the aisles.
"We typically have two morning worship services, but for the dedication we wanted everyone together," said Ron Madison, pastor of the Madison Baptist Association church.
Nonetheless, a crowded scene is not unusual for the congregation. In the past four years, the 153-year-old church has doubled its worship attendance, outgrowing its 425-seat sanctuary and moving to its family life center in August 2006.
The new 1,000-seat sanctuary — filled to capacity for the dedication — was part of the first phase of a three-phase building program. Also included in the first phase were a commons area, a partial basement for choir rehearsal and a two-story preschool and children’s education facility with a children’s worship area.
"The vision of our people is to reach our community, and when you do that, people keep coming," Madison said. "We had to grow to be able to care for the people the Lord was sending."
And despite a hefty building program, the church remains committed to missions, he said, noting that the congregation gave more than $80,000 to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and exceeded its Annie Armstrong Easter Offering goal of $26,000. (TAB)
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