Thanks to New Hope Worship Center a nearly 100-year-old Plant City building is no longer sitting vacant.
The ribbon cutting ceremony was held June 10 and over 100 people flocked to the steps to welcome the community to the restored building.
“It was just really awesome,” Terri Lewis, Pastor John Swiney’s secretary, said. “The turnout was amazing and we’re excited to have been able to restore this building.”
The Plant City Cornerstone Center housed its first service for the First Baptist Church of Plant City in 1923. In 1944, First Baptist built a larger facility next door and Cornerstone Center became a glorified box for 22 years as it sat desolate.
Then, in May 2016, New Hope voted to purchase the building due to an overwhelming growth in attendance over the past year. It’s old facilities were unable to fully serve the growing congregation and Cornerstone Center appeared to be the answer.
When Pastor Swiney took over in March 2015 the church had 33 members. A year later approximately 300 people were regularly coming to worship.
The move to Cornerstone Center seemed like a logical fit for the congregation and $112,000 was spent on purchasing the new church, while another $450,000 was used for repairs and $100,000 was spent on environmental, engineering, termites and other reports.
The funds derived predominately from the $400,000 obtained from the selling of the former facility on Mahoney Street as well as a fundraiser held from March to June and a small mortgage.
The new building is able to fit 500 people in the sanctuary with an overflow room that can hold up to 200 more, leaving room for growth for this flourishing church.
“The impact will be very large,” Swiney said. “We really want to do something and be a special place for the people of plant city. We have a goal to impact every area of life from the needy to every corner of our community.”
The majority of the church is finished with only the elevator left to repair.
An expanding congregation also led to growing involvement in the community. Members at New Hope pushed for more outreach programs, groups and amenities so everyone would have something that fit their passions and needs.
“The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce congratulates Pastor Swiney and the congregation of New Life at the Cornerstone on the purchase and remodel of this historic building,” Norm Nelson, membership director for the Plant City Chamber of Commerce, said. “We are grateful for the investment they have made in our downtown area and the betterment of our community. It is great to see this beautiful facility be brought back to life – New Life.”
Lewis said she believes the new building will help New Hope fulfill its potential as a welcoming presence in the community.
“We just wanted to be your neighborhood church where everyone feels welcome and that they have the freedom to worship here,” Lewis said. “A welcoming atmosphere and a place for the whole family.”
Part of the allure for new members may lie in the curiosity the community has for the restored church, said Lewis. However, she said the praise and worship team, new programs and simply word of mouth has driven many people through its open doors on Sundays.
New Hope’s recent immersion in the community has also drawn attention to the church.
“We’re helping to clothe and feed the needy,” Lewis said. “We’re just doing a lot of outreach which has a lot to do with our congregation and how excited they are to be here in the new building and our pastor is wonderful. It’s just a real family here.”
New Hope also wants to create a food pantry in the near future and has a brand new youth program, a new ministry for young boys called the Royal Rangers as well as senior groups and a music based exercise program called “Praise Craze.”
It also will be offering classes on drug rehabilitation, support groups for divorced people, single parents and even Alcoholics Anonymous.
“There’s just so much more we’re doing now,” Lewis said. “Really come and just enjoy.”
Swiney said the church’s focus continues to be preaching the Bible’s truth while also reaching out to the community. He said New Hope will be bringing something “really special” to Plant City.