168-year-old Ebenezer church breaks floor on ‘state-of-the-art’ facility | Neighborhood Information

ROSWELL, Ga. — It was seven years in the past when Susan Thacker discovered Ebenezer Methodist Church.

“I used to drive by and see this little white church on the nook and thought to myself, ‘In the future I’m gonna go in there,’” Thacker mentioned. “Then sooner or later I did, and I by no means left.”

Thacker talked a couple of greeter at Ebenezer, Sandy Calbeck, who sat along with her at her first after-church supper. Calbeck, wearing an equivalent mild blue Ebenezer volunteer shirt, mentioned that at each service she will get the names of newcomers, goes residence, places them in her calendar and makes positive to name them by their first identify when she sees them once more.

“You stroll in, and it feels such as you’ve been there eternally,” Thacker mentioned.

In unison, Thacker and Calbeck voiced their pleasure Aug. 13 at a groundbreaking occasion for a brand new 23,000 neighborhood and multi-purpose middle throughout from the church on the nook of Ga. 140 and Cox Street in Roswell. The constructing, to be named the Pardue Household Basis Middle, was funded by Dwight Pardue Jr., a member of the church since 2014 and founding father of the Pardue Household Basis.

Ebenezer Methodist was established in 1853 and sits on 1 acre, however church leaders say they assume the growth on the adjoining 5-acre web site will convey in additional of the neighborhood. Plans name for completion of the power in 2024.

Pardue established the inspiration in reminiscence of his father and mentioned that the first motive for beginning it was to fund Ebenezer’s new mission. His mother and father have been churchgoers for so long as he can bear in mind.

“I feel it is one thing my household would have been very pleased with,” Pardue mentioned in a telephone interview.

Conventional providers will nonetheless be held within the church, however a up to date service can be held within the new area, Calbeck mentioned. She additionally spoke concerning the potential of a espresso store and daycare.

“Oh, we’re all prepared,” Calbeck mentioned.

Nearly 200 folks celebrated in entrance of the historic white clapboard church Saturday afternoon. Members and mates gathered underneath a white cover the place The Band Jubilee carried out. The band, consisting of Buggay members of the family, used guitar, mandolin, harp, upright bass and banjo to play bluegrass, gospel and Celtic stylings. Off to the facet, barbecue and desserts have been served in addition to “world well-known” Brunswick stew, a traditional Southern barbecue dish.

Earlier than the groundbreaking, Pastor Glenn Hannigan and Pardue took activates stage to speak concerning the mission’s timeline and imaginative and prescient and to present because of those that helped with the mission.

“It’s an extended story involving numerous Holy Spirit intervention,” Hannigan mentioned.

Hannigan mentioned the occasion is much less about groundbreaking and extra about ending up what his predecessor, Pastor Jack Pilger, began. Hannigan has been Ebenezer’s pastor since 2010. He had earlier served as sports activities editor for the Atlanta Journal Structure.

For the ceremony, architectural designer Regie Elkins, benefactor Dwight Pardue, lay individual Craig Crouch and Susan Dunphy, Pilger’s daughter, threw grime utilizing golden shovels.

The Rev. Charles “Chuck” Savage of Sardis Church in Atlanta consecrated the grounds.

“Consecration implies that we set one thing apart for a selected function,” Savage mentioned. “The aim that that is being put aside for is in order that God’s phrase will exit into this neighborhood.”

The plan for the power is for it to face as an invite to the neighborhood, extending previous the typical Sunday service attendee.

Talking after the service by telephone, Hannigan talked about holding weekly bluegrass and gospel nights, youth-oriented nights, open mic nights and neighborhood theater. For Hannigan, the potential is infinite.

“What can we do to draw the those that don’t come right here now?” Hannigan requested.

To pay homage to Milton’s farmstead origins, church workers needed the constructing designed with rustic attraction. The plan was for the power to resemble Scottsdale Farms in Alpharetta, Elkins mentioned.

Elkins described the power’s accommodating options, like the highest ground which was designed with out columns to host actions like children’ basketball, dinners and weddings.

He additionally spoke of the significance of circulate between the constructing’s inside and out of doors areas, so that giant actions may simply be opened to the outside. The surface amphitheater helps to advance that circulate, Elkins mentioned.

“The aim of this was for the power to be a neighborhood exercise middle, not an Ebenezer exercise middle.”

Shut

Following a consecration of the grounds from the Rev. Chuck Savage of Sardis Church, key gamers within the new Ebenezer constructing mission shovel grime at an Aug. 13 groundbreaking ceremony. From left, are architectural designer Regie Elkins, mission benefactor Dwight Pardue, lay individual Craig Crouch and Susan Dunphy, daughter of Ebenezer’s late longtime pastor Jack Pilger.

Ebenezer members Sharon Thacker and Sandy Calbeck volunteer on the Aug. 13 groundbreaking occasion. Thacker has been attending Ebenezer for seven years and met Calbeck early on. Calbeck and husband Jerry serve the church as greeters and have been attending Ebenezer for over 20 years.

Ebenezer Pastor Glenn Hannigan takes the stage to speak concerning the mission’s beginnings.

Nearly 200 folks stand outdoors Ebenezer Methodist whereas The Band Jubilee performs.

The Band Jubilee performs on stage. Members of the Buggay household fashioned The Band Jubilee of their household front room in Woodstock, Georgia.

Volunteers prepare dinner and serve barbecue for the occasion, following it up with selfmade dessert. In entrance of the grill, take-home plates have been stacked beside to-go cups stuffed with Brunswick stew.

Tractors sit on 5-plus acres slated for Ebenezer’s new facility. The mission needs to be accomplished in Spring 2024.

Pictured is a rendering of the Pardue Household Basis Middle, designed by Regie Elkins with Heather Clarke because the architect of report. The 23,000-square-foot constructing will sit beside an outdoor amphitheater with cellular manufacturing capabilities.

Following a consecration of the grounds from the Rev. Chuck Savage of Sardis Church, key gamers within the new Ebenezer constructing mission shovel grime at an Aug. 13 groundbreaking ceremony. From left, are architectural designer Regie Elkins, mission benefactor Dwight Pardue, lay individual Craig Crouch and Susan Dunphy, daughter of Ebenezer’s late longtime pastor Jack Pilger.

Ebenezer members Sharon Thacker and Sandy Calbeck volunteer on the Aug. 13 groundbreaking occasion. Thacker has been attending Ebenezer for seven years and met Calbeck early on. Calbeck and husband Jerry serve the church as greeters and have been attending Ebenezer for over 20 years.

Ebenezer Pastor Glenn Hannigan takes the stage to speak concerning the mission’s beginnings.

Nearly 200 folks stand outdoors Ebenezer Methodist whereas The Band Jubilee performs.

The Band Jubilee performs on stage. Members of the Buggay household fashioned The Band Jubilee of their household front room in Woodstock, Georgia.

Volunteers prepare dinner and serve barbecue for the occasion, following it up with selfmade dessert. In entrance of the grill, take-home plates have been stacked beside to-go cups stuffed with Brunswick stew.

Tractors sit on 5-plus acres slated for Ebenezer’s new facility. The mission needs to be accomplished in Spring 2024.

Pictured is a rendering of the Pardue Household Basis Middle, designed by Regie Elkins with Heather Clarke because the architect of report. The 23,000-square-foot constructing will sit beside an outdoor amphitheater with cellular manufacturing capabilities.