Food for the Soul
CENTER TWP — For now, the automatic glass doors still slide open for visitors to the former Friedman's store on Mercer Road. But come spring, even those will be replaced.
The 17,000-square-foot space is being adapted for occupants seeking food for the soul instead of food for their shopping carts.
"It no longer looks like the old grocery store my wife used to go in," said the Rev. J. David Panther, 52, senior pastor at First United Methodist Church.
With about 2,500 members, the church on East North Street is using its space to its fullest capacity, and leasing the former Friedman's is one of two expansion efforts. The other includes buying the historic Knights of Columbus Hall, which abuts the church parking lot. Combined costs for the projects are estimated at $1 million.
The hall will house ministries and outreach projects. The Friedman's space will house the contemporary Crossfire service, the most widely attended of five.
Since its inception, the service has been held off-site at such sites as Center Township Elementary School, the former Butler Mall and Butler Junior High School.
"For 10 years we've been setting up and tearing down every Sunday morning," Panther said of the audio-visual equipment needed for the praise band and service. "We were investing probably about 8,000 manpower hours a year."
"Volunteers get there at 6 in the morning and our church doesn't start until 10," agreed Artie Slear of Center Township, who has attended Crossfire for eight years.
Slear is among the church volunteers working to offset costs. The volunteers and paid contractors have been working since October on the project, which will include a stage, seating area, welcome center, coffee and fellowship area, nursery and classrooms.
The audio-visual booth also under construction will contain a large-format mixing console purchased from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, where the console was used in the fourth floor auditorium.
"The audio system is up to par and the stage is big enough," said youth director Kevin Mattison, 25, explaining the new venue will meet the criteria for booking larger name bands that appeal to teens.
The space will allow the option of hosting a midweek service as well as dramas or musical events. Much needed parking space also will be available along with classrooms to accommodate youths. Youth classes currently are offered in the main church, causing Crossfire's families sometimes to be divided.
"Any of the adults that go to the service, their children go across the street to the classrooms," said Slear, 37, who attends church with his wife Stephanie and their two young sons. "There will be classrooms at the Friedman's location and a nursery there as well," he said.
Like many Crossfire members, Slear said moving part of First United Methodist Church to Center Township should not hinder the group's presence downtown, especially since the Knights of Columbus space will allow the church to expand its ministry potential there.
According to the Rev. Tom Holman, a First United Methodist pastor, the Second Grace clothing ministry and Seeds of Hope, an addiction ministry, are among the various programs likely to occupy the two-story hall.
"Our Seeds of Hope group will get 150 people on a Thursday night. It will be nice to have a space that's big enough for them. They can break up into small groups," Holman said, adding the existing church is ill equipped for that purpose.
"There is a kitchen over there, and we will be looking at doing something with meals," he added.
The church expects to occupy the hall sometime in February or March. It plans to offer services by Easter in the new Crossfire location, which will seat about 500 people.
Holman said a name for the Crossfire site has not yet been announced.
"I don't think we've yet determined an official name for it, but we can't keep calling it Friedman's," he said.
