NEWS

Building project frees Medina church to move forward

There are many twists and turns encountered when a congregation agrees to tackle a massive building project.  The question of should we go or should we stay can cause uneasiness and at times, divide even a close knit congregation. But time - God’s time - helps bring light to the question and guidance through the many obstacles that inevitably will stall and alter the best laid plans of any congregation.

The city of Medina and Medina County in the year 2000 was in the midst of a tremendous population boom. New home developments for new families were sprouting up everywhere on the vast green acreage that once was rural farmland. It also was the time when Rev. Dr. Dave Tennant was appointed as senior pastor to Medina United Methodist Church, located on Court Street, one block from the quaint Medina town square. 

The church, originally constructed in the 1897, sits on little more than an acre of land. When you consider the acreage also includes the parking lot, it left little room for growth for a 1,200 member congregation. The most recent updates to the building came back in the 1950’s which added educational facilities and in 1967 which addressed the front of the building and narthex. By the turn of the century, the  Medina UMC building had become tired and worn out.

When Tennant was named as Medina UMC’s senior pastor there was a building committee already in place that had been addressing the issues of the existing building. At the time the committee and the congregation were in agreement that a major renovation on the existing building site would be a workable solution to issues with parking, accessibility and congregational growth.  The church was getting ready for a facelift. But was this a vision or just a solution?

By the year 2002, an opportunity had arisen to consider purchasing an existing church facility on 20 acres. The congregation was able to switch focus and began to free themselves of the old “solution” and became excited with the idea of relocating. The decision was made to sell the existing facility, an architect was hired and new possibilities began to unfold. The building campaign brought in $900,000 but months after the agreement was made, the seller backed out. 

The congregation had to switch gears once again, but with their new mindset they began their search for a new location.  It took several years, but in 2005 with cash in hand from the first capital campaign a 24 acre location (initially two adjoining parcels) was found and purchased.  “This new mindset was significant noted Tennant. “Our congregation began to see a vision and came out of this disappointing experience with a “yes we can relocate” attitude.”

Since the concept of relocation was embraced a critical element in moving forward had been the sale of the existing church property.  Being a difficult property to sell it held the church back for several years. Still the parishioners gave generously to the vision. With several rounds of design development, consulting with three designers and initiated two more capital funds campaigns, the construction of the 40,000 square foot structure began five years later in September 2010.  But this only came with a great deal of perseverance and the realization that we can move forward without the sale of the Court Street property.   “It was liberating when we no longer allowed the existing unsold building to be the engine driving the train,” said Tennant

With over ten years of visioning, planning, regrouping and one and a half years in construction, the new Medina United Methodist Church (Phase I) will be completed in the Spring of 2012. Some of the facility features include: 425 sanctuary seating capacity, fellowship area,  coffee café area, offices, conference room, pre-school classrooms with indoor and outdoor play areas, nursery, bookstore/library, kitchen, music/choir room, classrooms for all ages, youth ministry area, elevator, 144 parking spaces and more. Future additions (Phase II) will include a Family Life Center and additional parking.

Over the past ten years the make-up of the congregation has begun to change. On Tennant’s arrival the church served mostly older generations. But over the years, those who have become new members of the church have tended to be young families with young children under the age of ten. Of the three services offered at the church, the contemporary service has  grown the fastest and is the largest service with an attendance of 200-225 each Sunday. The church also runs a preschool of 200 students at the existing facility. The new facility will only enhance its capability to help serve its growing young community as well as continue to be rooted within Medina’s long-standing traditions and history.

“God’s hand has really been in this all along,” said Tennant. “It’s not all about the building. I am amazed at what our congregation has accomplished through what has been a long process in the midst of some harsh economic times.  The Court Street property has served this congregation for a very long time.  However, the new Foote Road location and facility will free this congregation to move forward with new growth and more impact for God’s Kingdom.”

Photo: Rev. Dr. ave Tennant gives tour of new construction to long-time friends, Rev. Dr. Scott Wilson and Rev. Dr. David Baker.

To view more about the new church construction visit the Medina UMC website.