Members of Atlas Community Baptist Church will soon have a new place to worship.
After out growing their original location, an 170 year old church located at 6396 Gale Road, members of the ACBC have been meeting at Goodrich Middle School while awaiting the completion of their new sanctuary at 9340 Perry Road.
‘It is the sweetest church,? said Jim Combs, pastor of Atlas Community Baptist Church.
Combs said 20,000 square foot building located at , dubbed ‘The Point?, sits on 20 acres and cost between $2 and $ 3 million to build.
Though originally slated to open in mid-July, Combs said the grand opening will now likely happen the first weekend of August, following some difficulties involving financing.
‘We are very, very excited about the new facilities,? said Combs.
Combs said the new church was named ‘The Point? because he no longer considers the church specifically Baptist. ‘We’re much more biblical than baptist,? said Combs.
Combs said he came to ACBC when it was on the brink of closing about three years ago. Though he was already serving as pastor at the widely attended Faith Baptist Church in Waterford, Combs said he had been searching for a way to minister to a smaller congregation. Atlas Community Baptist Church accepted his offer to minister there free of charge, and attendance, said Combs, began to swell.
‘It’s really, really done well,? said Combs. ‘We have everyone from bikers to businessmen. We’re a very practical, biblical church that loves people; That’s kind of our heart.?
Currently the pastor of several area churches, including The Rock in Fenton, Combs estimates he has a congregation totaling 10,000 when combined.
Combs said he hopes The Point will serve as a meeting place for the community, and intends to allow community use of the church’s gym and baseball field.