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Lystra Baptist Church breaks ground for new sanctuary

Pastor John Garrison said on a recent Sunday morning at Lystra Baptist Church in Cullman, some kids were making noise during the service. And one of the church members had something to say about it.
  • October 9, 2024
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • Church/Association News, Latest News
John Garrison (fourth from right), pastor of Lystra Baptist Church in Cullman, and the church’s building committee pose with their builder and draftsman during the church’s groundbreaking celebration Sept. 22. The church is building a new sanctuary.
Photo courtesy of Lystra Baptist Church

Lystra Baptist Church breaks ground for new sanctuary

Pastor John Garrison said on a recent Sunday morning at Lystra Baptist Church in Cullman, some kids were making noise during the service.

And one of the church members had something to say about it.

“They said, ‘Doesn’t that sound good?’ Seven years ago, we only had one child here, and now we have as many as 15 here on some Sundays,” Garrison said.

Good space ‘problem’

The church, which in 2017 was made up of mostly older members, is now growing with young families and has a space “problem.”

Because of that, they held a ground breaking celebration for their new sanctuary Sept. 22. The new facility, which they hope to complete in eight or nine months, will enlarge their seating capacity to around 130. Their current sanctuary seats about 80.

“We’ve been waiting three years for this to happen,” Garrison said.

He attributes the growth to what God has been doing in the hearts of church members. He said when he told them it was their responsibility to witness to people and bring their friends to church, they believed him.

“It’s not me, it’s what God is doing in this congregation,” Garrison said. “They’re a wonderful, loving church. They make people feel at home.”

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