Marcus Richmond, pastor of the new Breakthrough Church at the Holly Pointe building on South Main Street in Butler poses for a picture Sept. 18. William Pitts/Butler Eagle

Local pastor Marcus Richmond knows the three rules of real estate: Location, location, location.

So he could not be more thrilled with the location for his new Breakthrough Church in the Holly Pointe building on South Main Street.

“They call it the Holly Pointe building, but I call it the ‘Holy Pointe’ building,” Richmond said. “It’s right in the center of town. It’s a very prime location. We’re blessed to be able to be at this location. To be able to share the Gospel right in the center of town is amazing.”

Although the Breakthrough Church already has held some services as part of a “soft launch,” it will officially open on Sunday, Sept. 24 with its first regular service, which it is calling “Family and Friends Day.”

“It’s going to be a powerful time of worship, and then we’re also going to have some time for fellowship and food after the service as well,” Richmond said. “There’s going to be activities for the entire family.”

Hailing from West Point, Miss., Richmond is a third-generation pastor, following in the footsteps of his father, Orlando. Richmond has been in the Butler area for a year and a half, and previously served as pastor for the Butler branch of the Church Experience.

“I served at another ministry, and God gave me a vision to be able to start Breakthrough and to be a light unto this Butler area,” Richmond said. “I want to see youth and younger adults on fire for God, and I want to see families closer together than ever before.”

The church is nondenominational and welcomes people of all Christian faiths into the fold. Richmond says that Breakthrough will fill a hole that the Butler religious community desperately needs to be filled.

“There’s people that have joined that have been a part of other ministries that have merged together,” Richmond said. “This community has been crying for a ministry that is very outreach-oriented for a while.”

Richmond said the new church already has attracted great interest in the Butler area, with nearly 50 people expressing interest in joining even before the official launch.

Upon opening, Breakthrough Church will offer regular service on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., as well as Bible study on Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m. Each Bible study will be preceded by light refreshments at 5:30 p.m.

Richmond says that the new church’s efforts will go far beyond coming together on Sunday, as Breakthrough Church will focus on outreach in every way it can. This includes after-school activities, outdoor services, and sharing the Gospel door-to-door, among others.

“We’re willing to take ministry beyond the four walls of the building to be able to be community-focused,” Richmond said.

Marcus Richmond, pastor of the new Breakthrough Church located at the Holly Pointe building on South Main Street in Butler poses for a picture. William Pitts/Butler Eagle