MINISTRIES OF AREA CHURCHES ON GROW WITH CONSTRUCTION

Unobtrusive signs on grassy knolls and on acreage harboring earth-moving equipment spell out the message. Church-related construction and expansion projects are on the rise in the Cape Girardeau area.

At least four churches are planning new buildings at sites in the new and fast-growing Lexington Avenue vicinity. The pastor of one of those churches, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), credits two factors for the increased activity.

"The most important one is a resurgence and interest in what the church can do for community and world around it," said the Rev. Leigh Earley. "It's happening across denominational lines."

"The other is, for about two decades, most churches have not done very much to their facilities and properties," he said.

The congregation, which currently meets at 829 N. West End Blvd., in January authorized a capital funds campaign, Earley said. "We're looking toward relocation at property we own on Abbey Lane, off Lexington."

Construction has already begun at 3054 Lexington. First Pentecostal Church members, now meeting at 636 S. Kingshighway, expect to gather in their new sanctuary by early summer.

"We've had this building in mind for several years," said the Rev. John E. Gourley, pastor of First Pentecostal Church. "We determined to build because so many of our people were moving out in this direction," Gourley said.

Location, Gourley reflected, can be every bit as important, if not more critical, for a church than for a business. "Location and advertising go a long way," the pastor asserted.

Not far away, a sign marks the spot where the new home of La Croix United Methodist Church will soon stand. The congregation, which currently worships on Sunday mornings at West Park 4 Cine in West Park Mall, expects to meet in its new facilities by the spring of 1995, said the Rev. Ron Watts.

Also planning construction at a Lexington Avenue site is Christ Presbyterian Church, 400 S. Kingshighway. "We hope to be in our new building by the end of the year," said Jim Washburne, chairman of the building committee.

Church expansion and construction, however, is not confined to one locale.

First Baptist Church of Cape Girardeau, 926 Broadway, last month launched a remodeling project. "We're renovating the entire Sunday school, education section of our building," said the Rev. John Owen. "We're also adding a large entrance foyer on the back of the building, and putting in a music suite for the choirs."

Educational space requirements, likewise, have prompted a construction project at First Baptist Church of Jackson, 212 S. High St. A new education building scheduled for completion in late spring will bring the church's Sunday School classes under one roof. Currently, several Sunday school classes meet in buildings within a two-block radius of the church.

Just across Ohio Street in Jackson, New McKendree United Methodist Church has formed a building committee. "We're working on a plan to develop a family activity center," said the Rev. Otto Steinhaus.

Another type of expansion has already occurred at the Jackson church, the minister explained. In 1993, New McKendree added a 5 p.m. Saturday worship service.

Maple Avenue United Methodist Church is another area church expecting to launch a building project this year. In January, the congregation moved to a location at Cape Rock Drive and Jean Ann Street.

St. Mark Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, completed an extensive expansion project in 1993. A new sanctuary and new Sunday school rooms were included in the construction project at the 1900 Cape LaCroix Rd. church. Plus, the church launched a preschool which is housed in the basement of the facility.

Several other churches in the area have recently relocated, and there were numerous structural-and-grounds-improvement projects at local churches throughout 1993.

FISH, a community-based emergency relief organization with 45 supporting churches, in January moved to 106 S. Sprigg. Supporters say the new site should increase FISH's visibility and accessibility.