Congregants excited for new, permanent facilities.

After more than five years of hard work and dedication, the congregation of Northpark Community Church is realizing a dream: moving into a new, permanent home in the Rye Canyon Business Park at 28310 Kelly Johnson Pkwy. Formally launched in 1996 from a 70-seat facility, the non-denominational Christian church has now grown to more than 2,000 members, with four Sunday morning worship services.

Sue White, web and communication coordinator for the church, stresses that the new campus is more than just a place for songs and sermons.

“We’re really excited about being more than a local church, but really a community center,” said White. “We’re hoping to do a lot of things out of here … We want it to be a place that serves the community.”

Outreach programs include Trinity Classical Academy preschool, Treasure Box food distribution, and international mission projects. Members are active in men’s, women’s, singles, couples, and youth groups, as well as Bible classes and studies. Northpark also conducts Spanish-language ministries.

After worshiping in rented facilities in various strip malls for many years, construction on the new 11-acre campus began two years ago. The first of three planned buildings is now open, with completion of the third expected within the next decade. Ultimately, the current building will be converted solely for education programs, and the second as a community gym. Plans are in the works to also include a coffee house, bookstore, and other facilities.

While the celebration center in the new building is already one of the largest venues in the valley, seating approximately 800, Northpark members intend to reach far beyond that. The last and largest of the three buildings could seat up to 5,000.

“When we build our eventual final celebration center, we want it to be big enough to do all that we hope to do,” said White.