The property, owned by the United Methodist Church, houses an auditorium that will used for worship services, as well as a fitness center, cafe, children’s areas, classrooms and offices.
After eight months of planning, the project is becoming a reality with church members gathering with paint brushes and paint to refresh areas of their new home. On Saturday, a crew of volunteers spruced up the cafe.
“The cafe area is full of potential and possibilities for drop-in conversations and gathering spots,” said Kim Miller, worship and campus designer for the church. “We want to create a warmth there, a feeling of community.”
Worship services will be held Saturday evenings beginning April 7.
This will be the third campus for Ginghamsburg, which also runs a Fort McKinley branch at the corner of Salem and Siebenthaler avenues. Ginghamsburg’s pastor of new church development, Dave Hood, will lead both congregations. He’ll conduct worship services at 5 p.m. Saturdays at The Point, then repeat his message Sunday mornings at Fort McKinley.
Hood, 39, is a Belmont High School and United Theological Seminary graduate. When Ginghamsburg first merged with the Fort McKinley church in July 2006, he said the existing church had few resources and an aging population. It has grown from 40 attendees to more than 400. Last week, Hood said, 103 children came to church.
“What we realized is that not only are there great mission fields all over the world, but great mission fields right here in Dayton,” he said. The outreach locally began with a Belle Haven Elementary School partnership with church members serving as teachers’ aides, working with the PTA and helping to run camps. Now Valerie Elementary has been added, and Hood said the hope is to work with Trotwood schools in the future.
“We found we can do more together than we can by ourselves, and in this case, the alliance with the YMCA is very important,” Hood said.
Jackie Brockman, associate executive director of the YMCA, said she believes the two organizations have similar visions for the community.
“The YMCA is really for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility,” Brockman said. “Some areas will be shared usage spaces, and we also hope to collaborate on some programming in the future.”
Hood said the satellite churches are not designed to be carbon copies of the larger church, but aim to reflect their own communities.
“I’m not an expert on what people in Trotwood want,” Hood said. “We do prayer walks and have teams of three and four walking through the community. They ask three questions of people they meet in the neighborhoods: What are the greatest needs in this community? What are the greatest assets? And what would a great church in your neighborhood look like to you?”
The goal, he said, is to become the church that neighborhood people envision.
He said in the case of Fort McKinley, for example, it was imperative that the area’s racial diversity be reflected in the church music. About half of those who come to that church are African-American.
“So on any given Sunday, you may hear an old hymn we’ve rocked up with a new groove, or you may hear a great gospel or R&B tune, or a secular song you’ve heard on the radio,” Hood said.
When people in the neighborhood said they couldn’t afford to get dressed up for church, it was decided that Sunday dress would be casual. Hood preaches in jeans and sneakers. The Fort, as its known, also hosts 12-step meetings, neighborhood breakfasts and a food pantry.
Based on the Trotwood conversations, Hood said one of the initiatives for the new church will be to begin a jobs program at that location.
Although anyone is welcome to attend services and serve at any of the Ginghamsburg churches, those who want to become members must complete a 13-week training program. There are currently 1, 200 members.
“Membership isn’t about perks and privileges,” Hood said. “It’s about a deeper level of commitment.”
The Point will hold a family movie night Saturday, March 17, and a free concert Saturday, March 24. Worship will be at 5 p.m. Saturday nights, beginning April 7. For more information: www.ginghamsburg.org.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2000 or MMoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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