GROWTH PROMPTS CAPE CHURCHES TO EXPAND; SOME PLAN NEW BUILDINGS

Churches in Cape Girardeau are experiencing a building boon.

Several churches around the city are expanding or planning new buildings. All say they've outgrown their existing buildings.

Lynwood Baptist Church, now at Lynwood and Randol, will be getting bids next week for construction of a church on Route W near Kingshighway. A ground-breaking ceremony is planned for early November, said the Rev. Mark Anderson, pastor.

A 38,000-square-foot building is planned, including an 1,100-seat worship center and educational space for adults and youth, Anderson said.

"Then we have future phases of development that we'll work on later," he said.

Cost of the church is estimated at $3 million, Anderson said. The church owns 24 acres at the site.

"This has been a real positive experience for our people," Anderson said.

The church's resident membership is about 860 people, he said.

"We've outgrown the facility, we've outgrown the parking," Anderson said. The church uses the parking lot at Alma Schrader School and runs shuttle buses back and forth for Sunday services, he said.

Cornerstone Church, now on West End Boulevard, is planning a new building on the north side of Highway 74 near Minnesota, said the Rev. Kim Ferguson, pastor.

"It is exciting," he said. "We're looking at a multiphase program that will consist of a minimum of three phases," Ferguson said.

The first phase will include construction of a new sanctuary and education building totalling about 9,000 square feet.

Ferguson said he hopes the congregation, which averages about 125, will be in the new building by next fall.

Additional plans call for construction of a gymnasium, expansion of the sanctuary and an expanded education and administration area.

A softball field, playground area and perhaps a walking track area would also be nice amenities for the 11.75-acre site, Ferguson said.

He said the church has "absolutely outgrown" its current building, the old Fischer Market.

"When we were running 65 and 70 people every Sunday, it wasn't a problem; but now we have about 150 people that call this church their home," he said.

The non-denominational church was established five and a half years ago.

Construction has already started on a 10,000-square-foot addition at LaCroix United Methodist Church on Lexington.

"They're digging the hole for the basement now," said the Rev. Ron Watts, pastor.

The two-story addition will house special ministries for children and youth, Watts said.

The current 14,000-square foot building was only completed a year ago, he said. But faster-than-anticipated growth prompted the congregation to move the second planned phase of construction up a year.

"Originally we were planning to do phase 2 next year," Watts said. "So we're ahead of schedule."

The church was founded eight years ago. Until the current facility was completed, it met at the West Park 4 Cine.

"In 1994, we averaged 220 people on Sundays," he said. Now the church's attendance averages 450.

More people are going to church services, which means churches have had to expand, Watts and Ferguson said.

"I think there's a spiritual hunger today, and that a lot of baby boomers are returning to church," Watts said. "I think that's part of the reason for so much building."

"I think there's a renewed and strengthened interest in our community in having a church relationship," Ferguson said. "We've got about four or five churches that have just really grown in the community."

Christian Faith Fellowship is also building a new facility, said its pastor, the Rev. Mark Carbaugh.

The 30,000-square-foot building, to be built on Route K, will house the church and Eagle Ridge School. A separate facility for the church will be built in the future, Carbaugh said. The new building should be completed by February or March, he said.

St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church is planning an addition, and Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, which now holds services at St. Francis Medical Center, is planning construction of a church on Lexington.