Brian and Providence Hartle, founders of Abba's House at 320 W. Main St. in Saxonburg, envision the newly renovated facility as a place for members of the community relax, celebrate and connect with each other.

SAXONBURG — When Saxonburg residents gather for music, games and refreshments at a grand opening at 6 p.m. Friday, they'll be at the culmination of a dream first envisioned 15 years ago.

Abba's House, a community meeting place at 320 W. Main St., is more than just the bright green house across from the hair salon — it's an act of faith.

“This is Abba's House, and it's about the people,” said Brian Hartle, who founded the house with his wife, Providence. “The stones are just an excuse to talk to the people and to be with the people and to be caring to the people.”

The Hartles' vision for Abba's House is simple and expansive. Under the slogan, “Relax. Celebrate. Connect,” the house, which took about 70 volunteers more than 1,300 hours and $100,000 in donations to renovate, features all the amenities of home.

Providence Hartle said everyone has open access to the house from 3 to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, when the community can use a living room with fireplace and piano, kitchenette and dining room, game room, indoor children's area, outdoor playground, movie room and free Wi-Fi.

“I feel that God's purpose for this is to bring this community together so people really get to know and interact with each other,” she said.

St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 310 W. Main St., owns the building and partners with the Hartles in their mission, Brian Hartle said.

Pastor Rodger Keller of St. Luke's said he supported the project for its potential to encourage fellowship.

“We've used it for day care and youth ministry and this now will cut across the ages and provide a safe place for people to gather,” Keller said. “Any kind of ministry that reaches out is good and we have the space.”

Abba's House achieved nonprofit status in December 2013, one month after the Hartles secured a building permit to renovate the house's interior.As members of the Sarver-Saxonburg Christian Leadership Network, the Hartles said they hope Abba's House can act as a connector between area churches and the community, helping guests get involved in groups and activities at neighborhood churches.“We hope to plug the people that have the needs into those people that are supplying the needs,” Brian Hartle said.Because Abba's House is nonprofit, Hartle said he and Providence plan to rely on donations from the community and the contents of their own retirement plans. They even hope to rent the house out for big events such as baby or bridal showers for a suggested offering.“People ask if it's going to work,” Brian Hartle said, admitting that he sometimes worries if the mission can support itself. “St. Luke's board owns the building. If it doesn't work out, then a church on Main Street that has helped this community for a hundred and some years gets a nice building, and that's not such a bad thing.”

The game room, like the other facilities at Abba's House in Saxonburg, is open to members of the community from 3 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.