The Crosslake Evangelical Free Church, more commonly known as the Log Church, has undergone building renovations for the past two years. Now they are finally ready to cap off those renovations with a service of dedication at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 31.
"We think of the movie 'Field of Dreams,' where the famous phrase is 'Build it and they will come,'" said church member Dennis Kolbrek, who serves as secretary of the church's facility planning committee. "Our story is that God has already sent them to us, so we will build. We didn't have classroom space. We didn't have a good entry space ... We needed an elevator. We didn't have much for fellowship space."
After breaking ground in April of 2013, the church now addresses all of those issues, providing multiple classrooms and a large entrance area that leads directly into a gathering area. One wall of that gathering area was originally an exterior wall of the Log Church.
A gymnasium has also been added, which features a regulation junior high basketball court and a full-size volleyball court.
The theme of the church's expansion has been "Growing God's Kingdom." Unwilling to fall too deeply in debt so as not to detract from the church ministries that may grow that kingdom, the church was able to complete these changes for roughly $1 million. Costs were kept to a minimum thanks to the help of the congregation.
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"We have had a tremendous number of volunteers that have built the building," Kolbrek said. "We had to use contractors where we have had to. Some of them were in our church. Many, many people have contributed hours and hours of work."
Following the service of dedication, an open house will take place, featuring food, fellowship, games, music and tours of the new and improved facility. The public as a whole is invited to the event.
While much of the work should be done by the time of the service of dedication, including the exterior of the new entrance, some projects will have to be completed in the future, such as carpeting the lower level and improving the lighting in the gymnasium.
"We will keep moving ahead as people make it possible," Kolbrek said.
He said the congregation consisting of roughly 200 members has been "unreservedly" appreciative of the work that has been done.
"I think I am most excited that we are making room, but seeing the kingdom grow in our midst," Kolbrek said. "We are able to use this facility to more effectively have Sunday school teaching. With the new entrance, we can get newcomers to come and get acquainted ... The whole thing is for the purpose of reaching out to other people with the good news of Jesus Christ."
