Published: March 30, 2008 10:42 pm         

Central Assembly of God breaks ground on youth and family center

Faith is a vital part of any religious belief and Central Assembly of God set out on a leap of faith Sunday.

The church broke ground for a 17,400 square foot youth and family center, north of the main church. The area will house about 300 for fellowship, and will contain a gymnasium, kitchen, bathrooms and showers.

However, they don’t know how much it will cost yet, but believe God will further their plans. Youth pastor Rodney Wardwell said it will provide meeting space for several hundred young people, an area for a basketball league so the church’s approximately 80 students and youth can invite friends to join them. Wardwell is youth pastor, along with his wife, Kate.

During the ground-breaking ceremony Sunday afternoon the group dedicated the ground to God.

Bids for the building currently are being collected and members of the building committee believe construction will take nine months to a year to complete. Church members designed the building for what they wanted, then contacted an Enid architect to do the plans for them.

“This really is a leap of faith for the church,” said Wardwell.

He has between 45-50 teens weekly attending Wednesday night services, plus about 30 children. He said with the opening of the new center they hope to increase the number of youth who are active in the church.

“This building will be primarily used for youth, that is what it’s for and we hope that will help us grow,” Wardwell said.

The church already is growing, he said, and the youth area has outgrown its present facilities. He said the youth need a place of their own, plus it will serve as a family facility for everyone.

The ground breaking was held on Family Sunday for the church.

Kevin and Tammie Ward serve as pastors of Central Assembly of God.