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Wisconsin Church's Vision: 'Build It – They Will Come'
By Craig Pinley
NEW RICHMOND, WI (June 17, 2004) - The phrase "if you build it, they will
come" was made famous in a baseball movie, but pastor Rudy King believed
those words would ring true for his church as well.
King began a church "replanting" effort a few years ago with
construction of a 16,000-square-foot building. He hoped that the larger
facility would bring people into his congregation and his expectations
are being realized.
On Easter Sunday 2000, the church had 35 in attendance. On Easter Sunday
this year, the count was 225. Overall, Prairieview Covenant has been
averaging about 100 in worship attendance since last December. A midweek
family Bible study component this spring averaged more than 50
participants and membership has increased as well.
"The Lord has given us a new life as a congregation in the right place,
at the right time," said pastor King, who arrived in New Richmond after
serving a church plant in Albany, Minnesota. "My goal is that we average
150 by Christmas. I'm doing inquirer's classes for new people three
times per year now and we have received new members twice already this
year (a total of 11 people)."
Work on the facility has been going since June 2001, said Nancy King,
Rudy's wife and a key figure in the church's children's ministry
programming. Prairieview Covenant has been using about three quarters of
the facility since Easter 2002. That section includes a multipurpose
room, offices, a large entry area and classrooms. The construction work
for the final 4,000 feet - which includes a sanctuary that would seat
250 - is being done as funds come in. The church began this final phase
last June and the Kings hope to use the sanctuary later in the fall.
Volunteer labor from multiple churches has made all of this possible. A
total of 24,000 hours has been donated in a variety of ways by around 30
churches, Nancy King added.
The prospects of continued growth at the church are good, according to
area demographic statistics. The church (originally founded in 1890
under another moniker) is located in the 28th fastest growing county in
the U.S., said Nancy King. In visiting their neighbors, the Kings have
discovered that there are many newcomers who have not found a church
home or have not regularly attended church in the past. They believe
that even more fruitful ministry can occur in the region.
There has been talk of adding another Covenant congregation in the Lake
Pepin District (including 10 congregations in western Wisconsin and
eastern Minnesota) and enlisting the help of Crossroads Church in the
Twin Cities to plant a church in Hastings, Minnesota. In the meantime,
however, the spiritual growth occurring within the congregation has
already encouraged those at Prairieview Covenant.
"We've had a 'Celebrate Recovery' program for people recovering from all
sorts of addictions and we've partnered with a church that uses our
facility," Nancy King said. "A couple of people have come to the Lord
through that and are now attending our church. Evangelism is near and
dear to our hearts and we're really gaining a lot of children and young
couples. There is a ton of hurting people here that we can reach out to.
We seem to be on the edge of a lot more growth."
To learn more about the ministry at Prairieview Covenant, call
715-246-0600 or email rudyking@pressenter.com.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
